Most people will be familiar with the huge impact cancer has as a disease, on patients and their loved ones, but the vast effect the disease also has on society more broadly is less recognized.
In the United States, more than 1.8 million new cancer cases were reported in 2022, and more than 600,000 people in the country died of cancer in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), making it one of the biggest killers in America.
While cancer as an illness has thus brought suffering and grief to many American families, its impacts are “far more devastating than we think about,” Electra Paskett, a professor of cancer research and director of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control in the College of Medicine, at Ohio State University, told newsweek.
“Usually we just consider the patient and family and side effects of treatment, but we also need to include communities and countries in the impact,” she added.
Highlighting this impact, a new study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and other collaborators has revealed the economic extent of the ripple effects cancer has through society.
The authors of the study hope that,in highlighting the “profound loss in societal contributions” caused by cancer-related mortality,it will underscore the “importance of sustained investments into cancer control efforts to not only save countless lives and reduce suffering but also to preserve the functioning of families,communities and societies,” Yek-Ching Kong,one of the authors of the new study and a doctoral student at the IARC,told Newsweek.## The Economic ripple Effects Of Cancer
The study, published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute on September 24, broadly highlighted the profound economic void left behind when individuals die early from cancer, which the researchers believe shows an interconnection between health and economic stability.
The researchers estimated the global productivity loss caused by premature cancer deaths totaled $566 billion in 2022, which is equivalent to 0.6 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP).
Premature cancer deaths among men led to $315 billion in societal losses and among women, the figure was $250 billion.
Of the global value, almost one third came from cancer deaths in Eastern Asia ($165 billion), followed by Northern America ($112 billion) and Western Europe ($70 billion), although when considered in relation to the national economy, the burden was heaviest in countries in Eastern Africa and Middle Africa, the study found.
“Differences in productivity loss between countries is largely attributable to differences in cancer risks and outcomes,” Kong said.
The researchers also assessed the productivity loss between both paid and unpaid work, finding that lost contributions from unpaid work were particularly substantial among women, but also considerable among men, with unpaid work accounting for more than 40 percent of the total losses among men in most regions of Europe as well as in Northern America.
“We found that lost contributions from unpaid work,such as,caring for dependents,household work,accounted for almost half (46 percent) of the total value,” Kong said.
As unpaid work is “vital to the functioning of families, communities, and socie“`html
Cancer Doesn’t Save Money, Study Finds
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A new study published in The Lancet oncology challenges the common belief that early cancer detection saves money. Researchers found that while early detection improves health, it doesn’t lead to overall cost savings for individuals or society. In fact, it often increases expenses.
The study, which analyzed data from 22 high-income countries, considered the economic impact of cancer across a person’s entire life. It factored in healthcare costs, lost earnings, and the impact on social welfare programs. Researchers discovered that the financial burden of cancer extends far beyond initial treatment.
“We found that cancer is expensive, nonetheless of when it’s diagnosed,” explained yek-Ching Kong, a doctoral student at the International agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and one of the study’s authors. “Early diagnosis doesn’t necessarily translate to lower costs.”
The research highlights that cancer impacts productivity and earning potential,even with early intervention. Lost workdays, reduced work capacity, and premature mortality all contribute to significant economic losses. These losses aren’t limited to the individual; they affect families and the broader economy.
Dr. Howard,an expert not involved in the study,agrees. He points out that screening,diagnosis,and treatment all carry substantial costs. He also notes that some cancers detected through screening would never have caused problems if left undiagnosed.
He said that instead: “screening costs money, diagnosis costs money, treatment costs money, and there are some portion of people who are diagnosed with cancers that would never have become apparent if left undiagnosed and untreated.”
While screening may improve health outcomes, it doesn’t save money. This finding doesn’t diminish the importance of early detection,but it does shift the focus.
the study underscores the need for complete support systems for cancer patients and their families. this includes financial assistance, job protection, and access to social welfare programs. Howard suggests focusing on helping those unable to work or families who’ve lost a breadwinner, regardless of age.
Ultimately, the economics of cancer care are complex. “Although we have seen tremendous breakthroughs in cancer research over the past decade, the life-saving potential of these ground-breaking treatments is too often limited by their prohibitive costs,” said Gross.
Full Interview below
Q1: Were the costs higher than you anticipated?
“Previous studies included only paid work, or were focused on either a single cancer type, country, or specific region. In our global study that included all cancers, we found that lost contributions from unpaid work were substantial.”