Insights on Cancer: Rates, Costs, and Strategies

GENERAL

• In 2024, more than 2 million new cancer cases are expected across the United States for all cancer types: Rebecca L. Siegel et al., CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Cancer Statistics: 2024, 2024

  • Cases and deaths per minute: American Cancer Society, Cancer Statistics Center, Explore Cancer Statistics: 2024 Estimated New Cancer Cases

• Projected new cancer cases and deaths (all sites) at the state level for 2024: Rebecca L. Siegel et al., CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Cancer Statistics: 2024, 2024

  • Estimated number of new cancer cases and deaths by state -- 2024: American Cancer Society, Surveillance and Health Equity Science, 2024

• In 2024, over 611,000 cancer-related deaths are projected.: Rebecca L. Siegel et al., CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Cancer Statistics: 2024, 2024

  • 1 cancer death per minute.: American Cancer Society, Cancer Statistics Center, Explore Cancer Statistics: 2024 Estimated New Cancer Cases

• In their lifetime, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer: Rebecca L. Siegel et al., CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Cancer Statistics: 2024, 2024

  • Cancer type projections: Rebecca L. Siegel et al., CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Cancer Statistics: 2024, 2024

STATE OF CANCER IN THE US

• Overall cancer deaths declined by 33% between 1991 and 2021: Rebecca L. Siegel et al., CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Cancer Statistics: 2024, 2024

• Cancer is the second leading cause of death overall: Rebecca L. Siegel et al., CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Cancer Statistics: 2024, 2024

• Cancer rate per 100,000 over time: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, National Cancer Institute, All Cancer Sites Combined Recent Trends in SEER Age-Adjusted Incidence Rates, 2000-2021, 2024

• Cancer rates are increasing in younger populations, despite the fact that cancer risk rises with age: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute, US Cancer Statistics Working Group, US Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations Tool, 2024

• Cancer rates are declining among older populations: Sonya Collins, American Cancer Society, 2024—First Year the US Expects More than 2M New Cases of Cancer, 2024

• The disruptions in health care and closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment: Rebecca L. Siegel et al., CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Cancer Statistics: 2024, 2024

• Colorectal cancer is rising in adults under 50: American Cancer Society, Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2023-2025, 2023

• Breast cancer is rising in women under 50: American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer: Facts and Figures, 2024 - 2025, 2024

  • Mammogram guidelines: Pouneh Razavi, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Mammogram Age Guidelines: What You Need to Know, 2024

• Many are being diagnosed at later stages: Nancy You, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Society, Colon cancer in young adults: What you need to know, 2024

• Many are being diagnosed with more aggressive forms of the cancers: Kathy Katella, Yale Medicine, What to Know About Rising Rates of 'Early-Onset' Cancer, 2024

CANCER RISK FACTORS

• More than 40% of all cancers in the general population are related to modifiable risk factors: American Association for Cancer Research, AACR Cancer Progress Report, Reducing the Risk of Cancer Development, 2023

• Obesity: American Association for Cancer Research, AACR Cancer Progress Report, Reducing the Risk of Cancer Development, 2023

  • Additional Source: American Cancer Society, Body Weight and Cancer Risk, 2024

• Genetics:

  • Source 1: National Cancer Institute, The Genetics of Cancer, 2024

  • Source 2: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Family Health History and Cancer, 2024

• Tobacco Use: American Association for Cancer Research, AACR Cancer Progress Report, Reducing the Risk of Cancer Development, 2023

  • 80% of all lung cancers and all lung cancer deaths are due to smoking: American Cancer Society, Health Risks of Smoking Tobacco, 2024

• Diet: Fang Fang Zhang et al., JNCI Cancer Spectrum, Preventable Cancer Burden Associated With Poor Diet in the United States, 2019

• Activity: Christine M. Friedenreich et al., Molecular Oncology, Physical activity, obesity and sedentary behavior in cancer etiology: epidemiologic evidence and biologic mechanisms, 2021

• Social Determinants of Health: Laura C. Pinheiro et al., Cancer, Social Determinants of Health and Cancer Mortality in the REasons for Geographic and Racial differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort study, 2022

• Environmental Determinants of Health: National Cancer Institute, Cancer Disparities, 2024

• Alcohol: American Association for Cancer Research, AACR Cancer Progress Report, Reducing the Risk of Cancer Development, 2023

  • Additional Source: National Cancer Institute, Alcohol and Cancer Risk, 2024

• Cancer affects all US populations, but social, economic, and environmental factors can increase the burden in some groups: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Cancer Disparities, 2024

DISPARITIES IN CANCER CARE

• Cancer screening rates were on average, lower among Black, Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian and Alaska Native populations: American Association for Cancer Research, AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report, Disparities in Cancer Screening for Early Detection, 2024

• More likely to be diagnosed at later stages: Alison Sexton Ward et al., USC Schaeffer, Reducing Racial Disparities in Early Cancer Diagnosis With Blood-Based Tests, 2021

• Rate of Cancer Deaths, 2022: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Cancer Statistics Working Group, US Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations Tool, 2024

  • NOTE: Rates are the number of deaths per 100,000 people and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population. Due to racial and Hispanic origin misclassification, data may be underestimated for racial or ethnic populations other than White, non-Hispanic and Black, non-Hispanic persons. Use caution when interpreting data for specified racial and ethnic groups other than White, non-Hispanic and Black, non-Hispanic persons.
    

• Black individuals had the highest cancer death rate and shortest survival of any racial and ethnic group: American Cancer Society, Cancer Disparities in the Black Community, 2024

• Black men are more than 2x as likely to die from prostate cancer than other racial or ethnic groups. - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cancer and African American People, 2024

  • Original source - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute, US Cancer Statistics Working Group, US Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations Tool, 2024

• Although fewer Black women are diagnosed with breast cancer than White women, they are more likely to die: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cancer and African American People, 2024

COST OF CANCER CARE

• Cancer has historically remained among the most expensive medical conditions to treat: Anita Soni, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Statistical Brief #470: Trends in the Five Most Costly Conditions among the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2002 and 2012, 2015

  • NOTE: This resource is from 2015 but is still cited today.

• Cancer is a growing economic burden: November McGarvey et al., BMC Health Services Research, Increased healthcare costs by later stage cancer diagnosis, 2022

• Cost of cancer from 2015 to 2030: Angela B. Mariotto et al., Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention, Medical Care Costs Associated with Cancer Survivorship in the United States, 2020

• People with cancer are 71% more likely to experience an adverse financial event within 2 years post-diagnosis, compared to individuals without cancer: Veena Shankaran et al., Journal of Clinical Oncology, Risk of Adverse Financial Events in Patients With Cancer: Evidence From a Novel Linkage Between Cancer Registry and Credit Records, 2022

• Compared to those without cancer, many individuals with cancer are more likely to report medical financial hardship, difficulty paying medical bills, and delaying or forgoing care: K. Robin Yabroff et al., CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Cancer diagnosis and treatment in working-age adults: Implications for employment, health insurance coverage, and financial hardship in the United States, 2024

STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS CANCER CARE

Promote Access to Affordable Cancer Care, While Maintaining Quality

• Ensure that cancer care is affordable for patients, providers, and payers: K. Robin Yabroff et al., CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Minimizing the burden of cancer in the United States: Goals for a high-performing health care system, 2019

  • Additional Resource: Financial Advocacy Services Guidelines, A Commitment to Equitable and Affordable Cancer Care, 2024

• Support access to high-quality, cost-effective, and patient-centered health care: National Cancer Plan, Deliver Optimal Care - National Cancer Plan, 2024

  • Culturally-competent care: Swarali Kale et al., Cureus, Addressing Cancer Disparities Through Community Engagement: Lessons and Best Practices, 2023

• Assist patients with navigating cancer care through holistic, multi-dimensional approaches: Health Care Service Corporation, HCSC Enhances Cancer Care Offering for Members, 2024

• Explore different cancer treatment initiatives, including value-based programs, supportive oncology programs, accountable provider organization partnerships, and comprehensive cancer support programs:
  • Value-Based Care: Thyme Care, Transforming Oncology: The Shift to Value-Based Care, 2024

    • Additional Source: Targeted Oncology, Tennessee Oncology, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of TN Collaborate on Launch of New Value-Based Care Initiative, 2021

• Supportive Oncology Programs: Brooke Worster et al., Cancer, The impact of outpatient supportive oncology on cancer care and utilization, 2024

• Accountable Provider Organization Partnership: Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute and Florida Blue, Accountable Provider Organization (APO) Partnership, 2022

• Comprehensive Cancer Support program - Meghan O’Brien, Michigan Blues Perspectives, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Launches Comprehensive Cancer Support Program, 2023

Improve the Delivery of Cancer Care

• Advance research that identifies and addresses inequities in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship: National Cancer Plan, Deliver Optimal Care - National Cancer Plan, 2024

• Promote collaboration between organizations to improve cancer care and reduce mortality through research-based approaches: National Cancer Plan, Deliver Optimal Care - National Cancer Plan, 2024

• Tailor communication to community needs and promote health literacy surrounding information on cancer risk factors, prevention, and treatment.: National Cancer Plan, Deliver Optimal Care - National Cancer Plan, 2024

• Strengthen coordination of care and communication between providers for patients undergoing cancer treatment: K. Robin Yabroff et al., CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Minimizing the burden of cancer in the United States: Goals for a high-performing health care system, 2019

• Address the mental health needs of individuals with cancer: Asanga Fernando et al., Future Healthcare Journal, Mental health needs in cancer - a call for change, 2023

Encourage Preventative and Early Cancer Detection Measures

• Promote a healthy lifestyle and address modifiable risk factors to reduce the risk of developing cancer: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Healthy Choices, 2024

• Encourage patients and providers to utilize routine, evidence-based screening and prevention strategies, including the uptake of preventative cancer vaccines:

  • Source 1: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cancer Screening Tests, 2024

  • Source 2: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vaccines (Shots), 2024

  • Source 3: BlueCross BlueShield of New Mexico, American Cancer Society Receives Grant From BCBSNM to Increase Access for Cancer Patients, 2023

  • Source 4: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Cancer Vaccines: The Types, How They Work, and Which Cancers They Treat, 2024