The number of Americans living with cancer will increase by nearly a third to almost 18 million by 2022, according to a report released on Thursday by the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute.
Currently there are about 14 million survivors.
Researchers say better treatment options and the aging and expanding population have led to the increase in survivors.
The growing population of survivors makes it even more important that the medical community understand their healthcare needs. One survey showed that out of primary care doctors, 94 percent knew little about the long-term side effects of commonly used chemotherapy drugs.
The three most common cancers among men living with the disease are prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and melanoma, according to the report. The most common cancers among women living with cancer were breast cancer, uterine or colorectal cancers.
