The Regional Cancer Center in Utica celebrates a ten year milestone. Our Sarah Hagen spoke with hospital officials and one local doctor. She has a closer look at cancer trends from the past decade.

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Cancer Program Administrator Carrie Pulaski said, "So we are dealing with a lot of breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, the top cancers in the country are reflective of what we see here."

In the midst of celebrating a ten year milestone, the Regional Cancer Center in Utica is reflecting back on what trends have developed in that time.

Regional Cancer Center Radiation Oncologist Gilbert Lawrence said, "Unfortunately, cancer is a very common illness. One out of three Americans will get cancer; three out of four families will be affected by this disease."

Doctors say the number of cancer cases across the country are in the rise, but if you look at the past decade, the number of curable cancer cases and survivorship, those numbers are also up."

Lawrence said, "Everybody's first concern is "Am I going to be cured?" Fortunately we can say today to a lot of patients, with early stage cancer, we can cure them. In 80-90 percent of patients."

Doctors say its new developments in technology and early detection that have made those percentages increase and now, survivorship programs are in high demand.

Pulaski said, "It's a whole set of needs specific to that, how they cope, how we monitor side effects and treatment, support them, the fear of re-occurrence."

Experts say while the signs are looking positive, many unanswered questions and challenges still remain.

Pulaski said, "Funding, you always need more. It's research intense. You need funding to support that. Funding for the care, for the needs of patients."

The center's bottom line is said to be stable, but those in charge say it's a constant uphill battle.