Here’s a more detailed explanation.
The newest American Cancer Society study just released suggests that a diagnosis of cancer is no longer a death sentence.
According to a recent U.S. report, the number of people who are currently living in the U.S. and have been diagnosed with cancer is projected to exceed 22 million individuals by 2035. At one time, a doctor’s diagnosis stating “you have cancer” would have been a death sentence. Thankfully that is no longer the case.
The study results have been published in CA: A Clinician’s Cancer Journal as well as a consumer-friendly publication entitled “Fast Facts” providing online information about cancer treatment. The study produced disparities in treatment for common cancers which included colorectal and lung cancer.
Dr. Nikita Wagle of the ACS and lead author of the report reminds us that there are critical issues that continue beyond a patient’s cancer such as financial hardship or fear of recurrence and that survivors must learn how to deal with these challenges. Behind each story of heroic resilience there is one of unmet needs. Dr. Wagle explains that the medical profession should respond to these needs in a fair-minded manner.
About the Study
The ACS and the NCI joined forces to estimate the prevalence of cancer in the U.S. Patterns of cancer treatments were presented at the Agency’s annual meeting together with a short overview of treatment-related side effects.
Some of the most prevalent cancers were:
- Prostate (3,552,460)
- Melanoma of the skin (816,580)
- Colorectal (729,550) among males
- Breast Cancer (4.305,570)
- Uterine corpus which is also termed as the body of the uterus (945,540)
- Thyroid cancer (859,890)
Fifty-one percent of cancer survivors had received their diagnosis in the past ten years. Almost seventy-nine percent were sixty years of age or older.
Comparing uninsured versus insureds who were privately insured the uninsured patients registered lower five-year survival rates compared to people who were privately insured but were diagnosed with stage two cancer.
Racial disparities were found to be common in several areas such as black individuals with stage I or II lung cancer having a lower survival than their white counterparts (47% against 52%).
Dr. Rebecca Siegel is a senior director at the ACS and co-authored the study. Dr. Siegel referred to even larger disparities such as only 39% of people with black heritage who have been diagnosed with stage 1 disease had undergone surgery compared to 52% of white individuals. According to Dr. Siegel these numbers should not be based on a person’s bank balance but should be available to everyone affected by cancer.
Lisa Lacasse is the president of the ACS Network, an affiliate of the Action Network. She stated that there is an urgent need to extend access to care in view of the proposed cuts to Medicaid threatening to reverse and undo gains the Agency has achieved.
CEO Lacasse further stated that early detection and improvements to treatment make a decided difference in fighting cancer.
