LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - While the incidence rates of cancer are decreasing, the number of cancer survivors is on the rise due to a growing and aging population. The risk of contracting cancer rises exponentially with age.

The study concluded that the expanding population of cancer survivors makes it very important that the medical community understand their unique healthcare needs.

A separate survey last month showed that 94 percent of U.S. primary care doctors were unaware of the long-term side effects of some of the most commonly used chemotherapy drugs. The findings highlighted the difficulties faced by patients after they beat the disease.

"Many survivors, even among those who are cancer free, must cope with the long-term effects of treatment, as well as psychological concerns such as fear of recurrence. As more people survive cancer, it is vital that health care providers are aware of the special needs of cancer patients and caregivers," Elizabeth R. Ward, national vice president of Intramural Research and senior author of the latest report said.

A significant percentage found that nearly one-half of American cancer survivors are age 70 or older, while only five percent are 40 or younger. The median age of patients at the time of diagnosis was 66.

Two-thirds of survivors were diagnosed five or more years ago, while 15 percent were diagnosed 20 or more years ago.

The three most common cancers among men living with the disease are prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and melanoma. The most common cancers among women living with cancer were breast cancer, uterine or colorectal cancers.

There are also 58,510 survivors of childhood cancer living in the United States, and 12,060 more children will be diagnosed in 2012.

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