One of the most encouraging trends in cancer research and oncology statistics is the steady increase in the number of cancer survivors. The latest figures estimate a remarkable 18.6 million cancer survivors in the United States as of January this year, with this number expected to surpass 22 million in the next decade.
Another positive note in this data concerns the length of time of survivorship, as 70% of cancer survivors have lived at least five years post-diagnosis, and 49% of this group were diagnosed over ten years ago.
Several reasons impact the growing number of cancer survivors, including the growth and aging of our population, as well as advances in cancer detection and treatment. While encouraging, these numbers also signal some potential challenges that the oncology workforce may face in the near future. A Viewpoint recently published in JAMA Oncology outlines some of the anticipated challenges and opportunities that may impact cancer care in light of the growing number of cancer survivors.
Indeed, cancer survivors require care, which can pose a significant burden on the oncology workforce. While those with new diagnoses may remain in active treatment, even long-term cancer survivors likely seek more frequent screening than their counterparts without a history of cancer. Further, as screening and treatment approaches improve, the complexity of cancer care may also increase, requiring a more specialized and highly trained workforce to care for the growing number of cancer survivors.
The article notes several negative implications that could arise if we do not adequately prepare for the changing landscape of cancer care needs, including a rapidly expanding gap between the number of cancer survivors requiring medical care and the number of oncology specialists available. Further, the slower speed and quality of cancer care resulting from a lack of specialized clinicians could directly impact quality of life and survival among cancer survivors. Rural and underserved populations will likely experience disproportionate shortages of specialized cancer care providers. Importantly, a negative impact of downstream cancer research could also arise, compromising progress towards developing novel cancer treatments.
The authors suggest a wide breadth to mitigate concerns arising from the growing population of cancer survivors. One suggestion made by these authors entails modifying practice norms to treat the increasing number of patients requiring specialized care more efficiently, not by requiring doctors to work longer hours. Some of the activities noted for potential optimization include reducing administrative tasks, improving electronic health record use, and better staff support.
The article advocates for a holistic approach to ensure that cancer patients in the United States receive comprehensive, efficient, safe, and effective healthcare, especially with the anticipated increase in patients. Successfully addressing these concerns will necessitate collaboration among various stakeholders, including payers, the government, and private health systems.
Sources: CA Cancer J Clin, J Natl Cancer Inst, JAMA Oncol