Owing to an increasing number of long-term cancer survivors, the use of health care services and somatic health problems were compared between cancer survivors and a noncancer population. Data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Survey 2 (HUNT 2, 1995-1997) was merged with the Cancer Registry of Norway. Six cancer subgroups were constructed with diagnosis 5 years prior HUNT 2: testicular cancer (n؍ 59), colorectal cancer (n؍ 175), prostate cancer (n؍ 87), breast cancer (n؍ 258), gynaecological cancer (n؍ 153) and lymphoma/leukaemia (n؍ 83). For each cancer survivor 3 matched noncancer controls were selected from the HUNT 2 survey. The prevalence of common health problems, use of health care services and unfavourably life style parameters were compared between the 2 groups. Cancer survivors used health care services and received social welfare benefits more often than the controls. There was an increased risk of perceiving poor health after a history of cancer. In the recent decade, the incidence of most malignancies has increased, as well as 5-year survival rates in both men and women. 1 During 1992-1996, the relative overall 5-year survival rate for all cancer patients in Norway was, respectively, 50% in males and 58%; in females compared to 25% in males and 38%; in females for the period 1957-1961. In 1999, a total of 83,636 cancer survivors with an at-least 5-year survival were alive in Norway. 1 These figures have in the last few years led to a paradigm shift: cancer should not only be considered an acute or terminal event but should likewise be viewed as a chronic condition. Quality of life and long-term effects after cancer therapy have therefore become important outcome parameters to be considered by oncologists, cancer surgeons and primary health care officers.Cancer represents a heterogeneous group of diagnoses where treatment and aetiology are far from uniform. The cancer itself and its treatment may affect the long-term health of cancer survivors at various degrees, causing adverse health conditions, which differ from those observed in the age-matched noncancer population. The recognition of common health problems reducing the overall well being among cancer survivors is of importance in order to identify these individuals' specific needs when presented to the health care service. Furthermore the recognition of long-term effects of treatment may lead to reconsideration and eventual modification of current treatment strategies.Several reports have focused on long-term medical effects after treatment for childhood cancer as well as adulthood cancer and have described specific health problems related to different treatment modalities. 2,3,4 -9 Beside causing chronic health conditions, cancer and its treatment increase the risk of secondary malignancies. 10 -13 Owing to the increased risk of developing secondary tumours and chronic diseases after treatment for malignancies, cancer survivors represent an important target population for health promotion interventions. Few studies regarding long-te...