Survival, Smoking, Physical Activity, Obesity, UV Exposure - Life After Diagnosis Summary Table

Only one measure per topic is displayed in the summary table. A complete set of measures, where they exist, can be found by following the More Information link in the table below.

Legend:
green line green - headed in the right direction
red line red - headed in the wrong direction
black line black - stable or non-significant change (NSC)
purple purple - indeterminate
blue blue - Healthy People 2030 target
Measure Name Survival Cancer Survivors and Smoking Cancer Survivors and Physical Activity Cancer Survivors and Weight Cancer Survivors and UV Exposure
Year Range 1975-2014 1992-2021 1997-2020 1992-2021 2005-2020
Measure

Five-year relative cancer survival: The proportion of patients surviving cancer 5 years after diagnosis calculated in the absence of other causes of death. The relative survival ratio is defined as the observed survival in the patient group divided by the expected survival of a comparable group from the general population. This ratio represents survivors that are expected if cancer were the only cause of death in the cohort.

Rates of smoking among cancer survivors are based on the self-reporting of individuals with a cancer history who are interviewed as part of the annual population-based National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Participants who had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and who, at the time of the interview, reported smoking every day or some days were considered to be currently smoking.

The percentage of cancer survivors reporting no physical activity are based on the self-reporting of individuals with a cancer history who are interviewed as part of the annual population-based National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Participants were asked how often they perform light, moderate, or vigorous activity for at least 10 minutes.

Rates of cancer survivors with obesity are based on the self-reporting of individuals with a cancer history, who are interviewed as part of the annual population-based National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Weight groups are defined by a measurement called body mass index (BMI), which is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters, squared. For most adults, experts consider a BMI of 30 and above as having obesity.

Rates reported for cancer survivors are based on the self-reporting of individuals with a cancer history who are interviewed as part of the annual population-based National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

Recent Summary Trend Stable Falling Falling Rising Stable
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2010-2014 2017-2021 2016-2020 2017-2021 2015-2020
Desired Direction Rising Falling Falling Falling Rising
Summary Graph Summary graph for Survival, Click to see detailed view of graph Summary graph for Cancer Survivors and Smoking, Click to see detailed view of graph Summary graph for Cancer Survivors and Physical Activity, Click to see detailed view of graph Summary graph for Cancer Survivors and Weight, Click to see detailed view of graph Summary graph for Cancer Survivors and UV Exposure, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates For patients diagnosed with cancer in 2014, the 5-year relative survival rate was 70.1%. In 2021, 11.4% of cancer survivors aged 18 and older currently smoked cigarettes. In 2020, 35.5% of cancer survivors 18 and older reported no physical activity in their leisure time. In 2021, 32.5% percent of cancer survivors aged 20 years and older had obesity. In 2020, 79.2% of adults said they usually or always protect themselves from the sun by practicing at least one of three sun protection behaviors.
Healthy People 2030 Target The Healthy People 2030 Target for survival is pending revisions. This measure will be updated once the Healthy People 2030 target is finalized. Reduce to 5.0% the proportion of adult current cigarette smokers. Reduce to 21.2% the proportion of adults who engage in no leisure-time physical activity. Decrease to 36.0% percent the proportion of adults with obesity. No Healthy People Target for this measure.
More Information Survival Cancer Survivors and Smoking Cancer Survivors and Physical Activity Cancer Survivors and Weight Cancer Survivors and UV Exposure
Last Updated August 2023 August 2023 August 2023 August 2023 August 2023
Measure Name: Survival
Measure Name Survival
Year Range 1975-2014
Measure

Five-year relative cancer survival: The proportion of patients surviving cancer 5 years after diagnosis calculated in the absence of other causes of death. The relative survival ratio is defined as the observed survival in the patient group divided by the expected survival of a comparable group from the general population. This ratio represents survivors that are expected if cancer were the only cause of death in the cohort.

Recent Summary Trend Stable
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2010-2014
Desired Direction Rising
Summary Graph Summary graph for Survival, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates For patients diagnosed with cancer in 2014, the 5-year relative survival rate was 70.1%.
Healthy People 2020 Target The Healthy People 2030 Target for survival is pending revisions. This measure will be updated once the Healthy People 2030 target is finalized.
More Information Survival
Measure Name: Cancer Survivors and Weight
Measure Name Cancer Survivors and Weight
Year Range 1992-2021
Measure

Rates of cancer survivors with obesity are based on the self-reporting of individuals with a cancer history, who are interviewed as part of the annual population-based National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Weight groups are defined by a measurement called body mass index (BMI), which is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters, squared. For most adults, experts consider a BMI of 30 and above as having obesity.

Recent Summary Trend Rising
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2017-2021
Desired Direction Falling
Summary Graph Summary graph for Cancer Survivors and Weight, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates In 2021, 32.5% percent of cancer survivors aged 20 years and older had obesity.
Healthy People 2020 Target Decrease to 36.0% percent the proportion of adults with obesity.
More Information Cancer Survivors and Weight
Measure Name: Cancer Survivors and UV Exposure
Measure Name Cancer Survivors and UV Exposure
Year Range 2005-2020
Measure

Rates reported for cancer survivors are based on the self-reporting of individuals with a cancer history who are interviewed as part of the annual population-based National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

Recent Summary Trend Stable
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2015-2020
Desired Direction Rising
Summary Graph Summary graph for Cancer Survivors and UV Exposure, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates In 2020, 79.2% of adults said they usually or always protect themselves from the sun by practicing at least one of three sun protection behaviors.
Healthy People 2020 Target No Healthy People Target for this measure.
More Information Cancer Survivors and UV Exposure
Measure Name: Cancer Survivors and Smoking
Measure Name Cancer Survivors and Smoking
Year Range 1992-2021
Measure

Rates of smoking among cancer survivors are based on the self-reporting of individuals with a cancer history who are interviewed as part of the annual population-based National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Participants who had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and who, at the time of the interview, reported smoking every day or some days were considered to be currently smoking.

Recent Summary Trend Falling
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2017-2021
Desired Direction Falling
Summary Graph Summary graph for Cancer Survivors and Smoking, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates In 2021, 11.4% of cancer survivors aged 18 and older currently smoked cigarettes.
Healthy People 2020 Target Reduce to 5.0% the proportion of adult current cigarette smokers.
More Information Cancer Survivors and Smoking
Measure Name: Cancer Survivors and Physical Activity
Measure Name Cancer Survivors and Physical Activity
Year Range 1997-2020
Measure

The percentage of cancer survivors reporting no physical activity are based on the self-reporting of individuals with a cancer history who are interviewed as part of the annual population-based National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Participants were asked how often they perform light, moderate, or vigorous activity for at least 10 minutes.

Recent Summary Trend Falling
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2016-2020
Desired Direction Falling
Summary Graph Summary graph for Cancer Survivors and Physical Activity, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates In 2020, 35.5% of cancer survivors 18 and older reported no physical activity in their leisure time.
Healthy People 2020 Target Reduce to 21.2% the proportion of adults who engage in no leisure-time physical activity.
More Information Cancer Survivors and Physical Activity