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 Weight
Year Range 1975-2012 1992-2018 1997-2018 1992-2018
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 cancer survivors in a cohort of cancer patients relative to the proportion of expected survivors.

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 2008-2012 2014-2018 2014-2018 2014-2018
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 Weight, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates For patients diagnosed with cancer in 2012, the 5-year relative survival rate was 69.0%. In 2018, 11.8% of cancer survivors aged 18 and older were current cigarette smokers. In 2018, 34.0% of cancer survivors 18 and older reported no physical activity in their leisure time. In 2018, 31.5% 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 Weight
Last Updated November 2020 March 2020 March 2020 March 2020
Measure Name: Survival
Measure Name Survival
Year Range 1975-2012
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 cancer survivors in a cohort of cancer patients relative to the proportion of expected survivors.
Recent Summary Trend Rising
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2008-2012
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 2012, the 5-year relative survival rate was 69.0%.
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 Weight
Measure Name Cancer Survivors and Weight
Year Range 1992-2018
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 2014-2018
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 2018, 31.5% 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 Weight
Measure Name: Cancer Survivors and Smoking
Measure Name Cancer Survivors and Smoking
Year Range 1992-2018
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 2014-2018
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 2018, 11.8% 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 1997-2018
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 2014-2018
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 2018, 34.0% 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