Survival, Smoking, Physical Activity, and Obesity - Life After Cancer 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 2020 target
Measure Name Survival Cancer Survivors and Smoking Cancer Survivors and Physical Activity Cancer Survivors and Obesity
Year Range 1975-2009 1992-2016 1997-2016 1992-2016
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. This  percentage is the proportion of observed survivors in a cohort of cancer patients to the proportion of expected survivors.

Five-year cause specific survival: The proportion of patients surviving a specified cause of cancer death 5 years after diagnosis. Deaths from other causes are not considered cause-specific deaths.

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 were asked whether they were a current smoker.

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 obesity 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). These 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 over to be obese.
Recent Summary Trend Rising Falling Falling Rising
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2005-2009 2012-2016 2012-2016 2012-2016
Desired Direction Rising Falling Falling Falling
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 Obesity, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates For cancers diagnosed in 2009, the 5-year relative survival rate was 69.3%. In 2016, 13.0% of cancer survivors aged 18 and older were current cigarette smokers. In 2016, 34.8% of cancer survivors 18 and older reported no physical activity in their leisure time. From 2016, 31.1% percent of cancer survivors aged 20 years and older were obese.
Healthy People 2020 Target Increase to 71.7% the proportion of cancer survivors who are living five years or longer after diagnosis. Reduce to 12.0% the proportion of adult current cigarette smokers. Reduce to 32.6% the proportion of adults who engage in no leisure-time physical activity. Decrease to 30.5% percent the proportion of obese adults.
More Information Survival Cancer Survivors and Smoking Cancer Survivors and Physical Activity Cancer Survivors and Obesity
Last Updated February 2018 February 2018 February 2018 February 2018
Measure Name: Survival
Measure Name Survival
Year Range 1975-2009
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. This  percentage is the proportion of observed survivors in a cohort of cancer patients to the proportion of expected survivors.

Five-year cause specific survival: The proportion of patients surviving a specified cause of cancer death 5 years after diagnosis. Deaths from other causes are not considered cause-specific deaths.
Recent Summary Trend Rising
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2005-2009
Desired Direction Rising
Summary Graph Summary graph for Survival, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates For cancers diagnosed in 2009, the 5-year relative survival rate was 69.3%.
Healthy People 2020 Target Increase to 71.7% the proportion of cancer survivors who are living five years or longer after diagnosis.
More Information Survival
Measure Name: Cancer Survivors and Smoking
Measure Name Cancer Survivors and Smoking
Year Range 1992-2016
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 were asked whether they were a current smoker.
Recent Summary Trend Falling
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2012-2016
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 2016, 13.0% of cancer survivors aged 18 and older were current cigarette smokers.
Healthy People 2020 Target Reduce to 12.0% 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 1997-2016
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 2012-2016
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 2016, 34.8% of cancer survivors 18 and older reported no physical activity in their leisure time.
Healthy People 2020 Target Reduce to 32.6% the proportion of adults who engage in no leisure-time physical activity.
More Information Cancer Survivors and Physical Activity
Measure Name: Cancer Survivors and Obesity
Measure Name Cancer Survivors and Obesity
Year Range 1992-2016
Measure

Rates of obesity 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). These 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 over to be obese.
Recent Summary Trend Rising
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2012-2016
Desired Direction Falling
Summary Graph Summary graph for Cancer Survivors and Obesity, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates From 2016, 31.1% percent of cancer survivors aged 20 years and older were obese.
Healthy People 2020 Target Decrease to 30.5% percent the proportion of obese adults.
More Information Cancer Survivors and Obesity