12 Mar U.S. Cancer Survivors Grow to Nearly 12 Million, 7 Million Are Senior Citizens
1 of 7 seniors survive cancer, mostly breast, prostate; survivors mostly female
March 12, 2011 – The number of cancer survivors in the United States increased to 11.7 million in 2007 and 7 million of those were senior citizens, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It appears about 1 of 5 seniors is a cancer survivor.
There were 3 million cancer survivors in 1971 and 9.8 million in 2001, says the report from the NCI – part of the National Institutes of Health.
Highlights included:
? An estimated 59.5% of cancer survivors on January 1, 2007, were senior citizens (age 65 or older); 35.2% were aged 40–64 years, 4.5% were aged 20–39 years, and <1% were aged ?19 years.
For more information about this study visit: http://www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Health/2011/20110312-USCancerSurvivorsGrow.htm