Best of AACR Journals

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Research Article
Cancer Survivors in the United States: Prevalence across the
Survivorship Trajectory and Implications for Care
Janet S. de Moor, Angela B. Mariotto, Carla Parry, Catherine M. Alfano, Lynne Padgett, Erin E. Kent, Laura Forsythe,
Steve Scoppa, Mark Hachey, and Julia H. Rowland
Janet S. de Moor
Abstract
Background: Cancer survivors represent a growing population,
heterogeneous in their need for medical care, psychosocial
support, and practical assistance. To inform survivorship
research and practice, this manuscript will describe the prevalent
population of cancer survivors in terms of overall numbers and
prevalence by cancer site and time since diagnosis.
Methods: Incidence and survival data from 1975–2007 were
obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results
Program and population projections from the United States
Census Bureau. Cancer prevalence for 2012 and beyond was
estimated using the Prevalence Incidence Approach Model,
assuming constant future incidence and survival trends but
dynamic projections of the U.S. population.
Results: As of January 1, 2012, approximately 13.7 million
cancer survivors were living in the United States with prevalence
projected to approach 18 million by 2022. Sixty-four percent of
this population have survived 5 years or more; 40% have survived
10 years or more; and 15% have survived 20 years or more after
diagnosis. Over the next decade, the number of people who have
lived 5 years or more after their cancer diagnosis is projected to
increase approximately 37% to 11.9 million.
Conclusions: A coordinated agenda for research and practice
is needed to address cancer survivors’ long-term medical,
psychosocial, and practical needs across the survivorship
trajectory.
Impact: Prevalence estimates for cancer survivors across the
survivorship trajectory will inform the national research agenda
as well as future projections about the health service needs of
this population. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(4); 561–70.
©2013 AACR.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev April 2013 22:561–70;
Published OnlineFirst March 27, 2013; doi:10.1158/1055-9965.
EPI-12-1356
Research Article
Vegetarian Diets and the Incidence of Cancer in a
Low-risk Population
Yessenia Tantamango-Bartley, Karen Jaceldo-Siegl, Jing Fan, and Gary Fraser
Abstract
Background: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in
the United States. Dietary factors account for at least 30% of
all cancers in Western countries. As people do not consume
individual foods but rather combinations of them, the assessment
of dietary patterns may offer valuable information when
determining associations between diet and cancer risk.
Methods: We examined the association between dietary patterns
(non-vegetarians, lacto, pesco, vegan, and semi-vegetarian) and the
overall cancer incidence among 69,120 participants of the Adventist
Health Study-2. Cancer cases were identified by matching to cancer
registries. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was conducted
to estimate hazard ratios, with “attained age” as the time variable.
Results: A total of 2,939 incident cancer cases were identified. The
multivariate HR of overall cancer risk among vegetarians compared
with non-vegetarians was statistically significant [HR, 0.92; 95%
confidence interval (CI), 0.85–0.99] for both genders combined.
Also, a statistically significant association was found between
vegetarian diet and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract (HR, 0.76;
Yessenia Tantamango-
Bartley
95% CI, 0.63–0.90). When analyzing the association of specific
vegetarian dietary patterns, vegan diets showed statistically
significant protection for overall cancer incidence (HR, 0.84; 95%
CI, 0.72–0.99) in both genders combined and for female-specific
cancers (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47–0.92). Lacto-ovo-vegetarians
appeared to be associated with decreased risk of cancers of the
gastrointestinal system (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60–0.92).
Conclusion: Vegetarian diets seem to confer protection against
cancer.
Impact: Vegan diet seems to confer lower risk for overall and
female-specific cancer than other dietary patterns. The lactoovo-vegetarian
diets seem to confer protection from cancers
of the gastrointestinal tract. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev;
22(2); 286–94. ©2012 AACR.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev February 2013 22:286–94;
Published OnlineFirst November 20, 2012; doi:10.1158/1055-9965.
EPI-12-1060
The Best of the AACR Journals 5