As of early 2025, an estimated 18.6 million people in the United States are living with a history of cancer. That number is expected to surpass 22 million by 2035. This sharp increase is driven by two key factors: the aging and growing population of the U.S., and significant improvements in early cancer detection and treatment—particularly advances in immunotherapy and targeted therapies.
The newly released Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Statistics, 2025—a joint report by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI)—offers a detailed snapshot of this growing survivor population. Published every three years in the ACS’s flagship journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, the report is designed to guide resource allocation, survivorship care planning, and policy development at all levels of the healthcare system.
Among men, the three most prevalent types of cancer are prostate cancer (3.55 million survivors), melanoma (817,000), and colorectal cancer (730,000). Among women, the most common are breast cancer (4.31 million survivors), endometrial (uterine corpus) cancer (946,000), and thyroid cancer (860,000). These cancers not only have high incidence rates but are also linked to longer post-diagnosis survival, contributing to their prevalence. In contrast, while lung cancer remains widespread, its lower survival rate means it trails behind less common cancers like non-Hodgkin lymphoma in overall prevalence.
Looking ahead, breast cancer is expected to see the most dramatic growth in survivor numbers. Between 2025 and 2035, the number of breast cancer survivors in the U.S. is projected to grow by over 23%, from 4.3 million to 5.3 million. This forecast underscores not only the progress made in early detection and treatment but also the increasing demand for long-term follow-up, rehabilitation, and mental health support for survivors.
Currently, around 79% of cancer survivors in the U.S. are aged 60 or older, and this demographic will continue to dominate in the years to come. However, age distribution varies significantly by cancer type. Cancers such as prostate, bladder, and lung are most prevalent among older adults, while cancers like testicular and thyroid tend to affect younger populations. For example, 44% of testicular cancer survivors are under 50. Melanoma also affects a significant number of younger individuals—nearly 37% of survivors are under age 65, and 12% are under 50.
Survival time after diagnosis is another revealing measure of cancer prognosis. Certain cancers, such as lung cancer, show high short-term survival rates (56% diagnosed within the past five years), but steep drop-offs in long-term survival—only 5% were diagnosed over 20 years ago. In contrast, nearly half of all survivors of cervical or testicular cancer were diagnosed more than 20 years ago, suggesting significantly better long-term outcomes.
But while more Americans are surviving cancer than ever before, the benefits of medical progress are not being distributed equally. The report highlights stark racial and insurance-related disparities in treatment access and outcomes.
In colorectal cancer, data from 2021 reveal that only 39% of Black patients diagnosed with stage I rectal cancer received surgery, compared to 64% of White patients. Moreover, uninsured patients diagnosed with early-stage colorectal cancer had lower five-year survival rates than privately insured patients with more advanced (stage II) disease. In other words, the absence of insurance may erase the life-saving advantage of early detection.
Disparities are also evident in breast cancer care. Endocrine therapy, a critical treatment for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer that reduces recurrence risk, was given to 72% of White women with stage III disease but only 65% of Black women with the same diagnosis. These treatment gaps reflect broader systemic issues that go far beyond individual clinical decisions.
The reasons behind these inequities are complex and deeply rooted. Fragmentation in healthcare delivery, lack of care coordination for survivors, workforce shortages, underrepresentation of minorities in the healthcare workforce, insufficient research on survivorship, and the absence of strong, evidence-based post-treatment care guidelines all contribute to the problem.
Margaret Hollis, a 56-year-old breast cancer survivor from Connecticut, put it plainly in an interview: “I was lucky. I got diagnosed early and had access to great care. But too many women I know weren’t as fortunate. They weren’t any less strong—they just didn’t get the support I had.” Her words are a stark reminder that behind every survival statistic is a human story—and not everyone gets the same chance to tell theirs.
Ultimately, the authors of the report emphasize that addressing these disparities will require sustained and coordinated action across multiple fronts: from individual clinicians to national health systems, from community programs to legislative reforms. Survival should not depend on your ZIP code, the color of your skin, or the kind of insurance card you carry. If America is to truly move into a new era of cancer survivorship, equity must be at the heart of the mission.