There will be 2.5m people with cancer in the UK over the course of 2015, analysis by Macmillan Cancer Support has found.
The figure is an increase of almost half a million on five years ago, with a 23% increase in the number of over 65s with cancer.
The analysis also found that 25% of those who have had cancer face poor health or disability after their diagnosis, meaning some will be reliant on health services even after the all clear from the cancer itself is given.
Of those with cancer, 1.6m were diagnosed five or more years ago, with men with prostate cancer seeing the biggest rise in the last five years of 27%, Macmillan has warned this figure may be higher.
Men who survive at least five years after diagnosis with prostate cancer have a 60% increased risk of ongoing problems, such as incontinence.
The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer has risen by 21% in the last five years, while 18% more people have colorectal cancer.
Lynda Thomas, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "While it is great news that more people are surviving cancer or living longer with it, progress is a double-edged sword.
"As numbers surge, the NHS will soon be unable to cope with the huge increase in demand for health services and the support that organisations like Macmillan provide will become even more urgent and important.
"But we cannot do it alone. As we are threatened by a cancer crisis of unmanageable proportions, all political parties must step up and make a real commitment to supporting people with cancer.
"At this point it is no longer enough to just pay lip service to the issue."
Thomas continued: "It is essential that every one of those 2.5 million people receives the highest quality care and support and gets the best chance they possibly can of surviving cancer."
