National Cancer Survivors Day is celebrated annually on June 2nd to honor those who have survived cancer, supported others with cancer, and worked to find a cure. The document summarizes statistics that show improvements in cancer survival rates over time, with the 5-year survival rate increasing from 49.1% in 1978 to 66.2% in 2008. It also lists the most common cancers and estimates that the number of cancer survivors in the US will grow to 17.8 million by 2022.

1. Celebrating National
Cancer Survivors Day
Celebrate those who have survived, supported, and
searched for a cure on Sunday June 2, 2013 during
the 26th annual National Cancer Survivors Day.

2. Today,
there are 13.7
million cancer
survivors in the United
States.

3. Thefiveyearsurvivalrate
in2008was66.2%,
comparedto49.1% in1978
—anincreaseof17.1 percentage
points.
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
1978 2008
Sources:
• The National Cancer Institute: Cancer Survivorship Research
• The American Cancer Society
• The National Cancer Institute: Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results
FiveYearSurvivalRate

4. The
average
age at diagnosis is
66.
Sources:
• The National Cancer Institute: Cancer Survivorship Research
• The American Cancer Society
• The National Cancer Institute: Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results

5. The Most Common Cancers by
Estimated New Cases in 2013
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
Prostate
(238,590)
Female Breast
(238,590)
Lung (228,190) Colon/Rectal
(142, 820)
Melanoma
(76,690)
Sources:
• The National Cancer Institute
• The National Cancer Institute: Surveillance Epidemiology and
End Results

6. 5-Year Survival Rates
in the Most Common Cancers
0.00%
20.00%
40.00%
60.00%
80.00%
100.00%
120.00%
1975
2008
Sources:
• The National Cancer Institute
• The National Cancer Institute: Surveillance Epidemiology and End
Results
SurvivalRate
Type of Cancer

7. By 2022,
the number of cancer
survivors will grow to
17.8
million
Sources:
• The American Cancer Society: Cancer Treatment & Survivorship, Facts & Figures 2012—2013

8. More people are surviving cancer today than ever before, thanks
to improvements in early detection, better treatment, and
improved supportive care. Whether or not you are a
survivor, have been recently diagnosed, or know somebody who
has dealt with cancer, National Cancer Survivors Day is a day for
hope.
Visit the official website of National Cancer Survivors Day at
www.ncsd.org to learn more about how you can get involved.
Sources:
• The National Cancer Institute: Cancer Trends Progress Report—2011/2012 Update