Cancer Trends in the US

Cancer & Chronic Diseases

New studies shed light on cancer prevention, a rise in breast cancer rates, chronic diseases, and persistent disparities.

• Cancer Trends: A new report from the American Academy of Cancer Research reveals that 40% of all cancers in the US are linked to modifiable risk factors like alcohol use, diet, and physical inactivity. The report highlights that infections account for 13% of global cancers, such as human papillomavirus.
  
• Breast Cancer: October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Recent data from the American Cancer Society show breast cancer incidence is rising, especially among women under 50. About one in 43 US women will die from invasive breast cancer. While survival rates have increased, they vary by race and ethnicity, with Black women facing a 38% higher mortality rate than White women, largely due to unequal access to screening and treatment. Another study found Black women also have a higher risk of dying from all types of breast cancer.
  
• Children & Chronic Diseases: Chronic diseases are increasing among young people, according to a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Certain chronic diseases, like asthma and obesity, stem from early childhood adversity and environmental risks. Interventions in childhood can reduce the likelihood of progressing into adult chronic diseases.
  
• Obesity: Obesity is a chronic disease that can increase the risk of other chronic diseases, including cancer. The CDC’s latest data shows 40.3% of US adults are obese, with severe obesity affecting 9.7% of adults. A JAMA study found that children and adults in low-income and low-food access neighborhoods face an increased risk of obesity, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

Resources & Initiatives

• The National Cancer Plan shares strategies on health system improvements to ensure accessible high-quality cancer care.
• The Elevance Health Foundation invests in organizations that address food insecurity to encourage food as medicine. BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina shares information on healthy eating, which can prevent diseases.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona highlights a report by the American Heart Association on the presence of high blood pressure in kids, including how obesity increases their risk.

Health Care Industry News

How health systems prepared for Hurricane Milton, plus a new report ranks the US health system, and updates on cybersecurity and support for telehealth.

• Hurricanes and Health Care: Many patients and health care workers were evacuated in advance of Hurricane Milton, while others remained. Hospitals and home-based care providers prepared to ensure patients’ safety during the storm. This comes at a challenging time, as hospitals face shortages of IV fluids following Hurricane Helene.
• Health System Trends: A new report by the Commonwealth Fund shows the US health system lagging behind comparable countries in different measures of performance. The analysis reveals Americans live the shortest lives and have the most avoidable deaths. The US is also behind in terms of health system performance and greater barriers to accessing health care, but ahead in terms of the care delivery process.
• Cybersecurity: A new analysis found that the cyberattack on Ascension cost the non-profit hospital system $1.3 billion. Health care cyberattacks have sparked urgency in providers and payers to secure their health systems. A recent survey found about 75% of providers and payers have increased IT investments in the past year.
• Virtual Care: Many health care organizations are asking Congress to extend pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances, which are set to expire on December 31st. There are ongoing discussions about how to ensure responsible prescribing while supporting people’s access to essential medications. FAIR Health released a new tool to track monthly telehealth usage by region.

Maternal Health

Access to maternal care remains a critical issue. Here are the latest updates:

• Access to Care: A report by March of Dimes reveals 35% of counties are considered maternity care deserts, meaning they do not have any birthing facilities or obstetricians. This trend is worsening as one in 25 obstetric units closed between 2021 and 2022. Women living in maternity care deserts have poorer health outcomes and higher rates of chronic diseases.
• Racial Disparities: A study found Black women are 25% more likely to undergo C-sections than White women for unscheduled deliveries. Among women with similar medical histories who saw the same doctor at the same hospital, Black women were about 20% more likely to deliver by C-section. Researchers cited racial bias and financial incentives as factors influencing doctors’ decision making.
• Maternal Deaths: State-level data from the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee indicates a spike in maternal deaths in 2020 and 2021, after two years of improvement. High blood pressure, a leading cause of maternal mortality, is receiving increasing attention. Additionally, recent data from Elevance Health show that late Medicaid enrollment increases the risk of maternal and infant mortality, compared to those who enrolled in the first trimester.

Resources & Initiatives

• See the CDC’s resource on strategies to reduce maternal mortality.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas’ Special Beginnings improves maternal and infant health outcomes by increasing access to care, reducing care gaps and education and engagement.
• Arkansas and California are taking on statewide initiatives to address the maternal health crisis.
• In a discussion about improving care and health equity, Guidewell highlights their partnership with a technology startup to improve care for pregnant people of color.
• A Congressional Briefing by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health shares information on suicide, which makes up 20% of maternal deaths.