Vol. 5, No. 019 |
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The Economic Burden of Cancer
In This Issue:
LEAD
WHAT'S NEW AT ZERO
IN MEMORIAM
RESEARCH AND TREATMENT UPDATE
ACTION UPDATE
THE DRIVE AGAINST PROSTATE CANCER
Lead
The Economic Burden of Cancer
According to two separate studies in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, cancer will take an increasingly large toll on the U.S. economy over the next decade. The studies used two different methods to estimate and project the value of lives lost to cancer that have occurred or are predicted to occur from 2000 to 2020. Both models highlight the need for a greater investment in cancer research.
Using a human capital analysis, which assumes that earnings reflect underlying productivity, Cathy J. Bradley, Ph.D., of Virginia Commonwealth University and the Massey Cancer Center in Richmond, Va., and colleagues projected that the annual cost of cancer in 2020 will rise to $147.6 billion from $115.8 billion in 2000.
Robin Yabroff, Ph.D., of the National Cancer Institute and colleagues estimated the value of lives lost based on how much patients would pay to gain one additional year of life ($150,000 according to prior studies). Using this "willingness-to-pay approach," they found the cost of cancer mortality was $960.7 billion in 2000 and predicted it to increase 53 percent to $1,472.5 billion in 2020. Either way you look at it, the cost is incredible.
"Perhaps the primary benefit of monetary estimates is simply to translate what professionals and patients already know about the human costs of cancer into a metric that is universally understood," concluded Scott D. Ramsey, MD of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. "As a tool for advocacy, dollar values can be powerful, particularly when they are weighed against other programs that influence human life and health under limited budgets."
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What's New at ZERO
Take Strides to End Prostate Cancer - Join a ZERO Prostate Cancer Endurance Team in 2009
Are you a runner? Want to hit the pavement for a good cause? ZERO is providing two opportunities in 2009 to run a marathon through the End Prostate Cancer Endurance Team. ZERO has plans to submit a team for both the Bank of American Chicago Marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. We will provide a Technical T-shirt for all members of Team ZERO with a minimum fundraising goal of $1000.
This training program is for individuals who wish to participate in races across the country to raise funds for prostate cancer education, screenings and research. This training program matches runners up with the races they'd like to run while helping to end prostate cancer. Participating on this team can, in some cases, guarantee you a spot for a competitive run such as a large marathon.
For more information, contact Tracy Amish at tracy@zerocancer.org or 202-303-3111.
In Memoriam
Dr. Donald F. Gleason |
Developer of Gleason Score Passes Away
Dr. Donald F. Gleason, the Minnesota pathologist who developed the Gleason score that is now used almost universally in the U.S. to predict the likely outcome of prostate cancer, passed away Dec. 28. He was 88.
Gleason was an unknown, junior pathologist at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center in 1962 when he was approached by the hospital's chief of urology to develop a standardized rating system for tumors. His scoring system was derived from looking at microscopic samples from the tumor and finding the two most common types of tissue in the tumor. Then, the pathologist would assign each a score from one to five depending on how closely the tissues resemble normal prostate cells. A score of one means they are very similar to normal cells, and a score of five means they look nothing like normal cells. The Gleason grades for the two samples are then combined to give a Gleason score between one and 10. The lower the score, the better the patient is likely to do. The higher the score, the potential for fatality is higher.
Although it took some time for the Gleason scale to be universally accepted, in 1987, seven of the leading authorities in urology and urological oncology sent a letter to the editor of the Journal of Urology urging that it be applied uniformly in all publications on prostate cancer. Their recommendation was adopted and the scale quickly came into wide use.
"His work is the gold standard for prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment selection," said Dr. Akhouri Sinha, a colleague of Gleason's at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Researchers have been trying for 40 years to develop a better system to replace it, he said, but without success.
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Research and Treatment Update
Looking at Drug Access Proposal
As the new U.S. Administration starts work this week, ZERO continues to look at articles discussing what should be done regarding the U.S. health care system. In an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal, Dr. Scott Gottlieb discusses a proposal from House Democrats to form an entity that would determine the cost-effectiveness of drugs and devices being considered for Medicare and Medicaid coverage. Gottlieb writes this approach fails to take into account disease variation and other scientific factors that influence treatment decisions. He recommends the government consider guidelines from medical groups in weighing differing technologies and argues the FDA should allow private firms to use findings from their comparative studies to promote their products.
RELATED STORIES
RELATED LINK
Experts Push for 'Man-o-gram' to Detect Prostate Cancer
Last week, prostate cancer experts urged Congress and the Obama administration to make a major research commitment to find better prostate cancer detection methods, including what they call a "man-o-gram." This involves a highly sophisticated ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging or other method to find dangerous prostate tumors, similar to the common mammogram scans used to find breast tumors.
Dr. Faina Shtern, who heads the Boston-based nonprofit AdMeTech Foundation coordinating the advocacy effort, said $500 million in research funding is needed over five years. More than two dozen experts from institutions including Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Medical School, joined the effort, signing letters to Congress and the U.S. National Institutes of Health, stating more accurate imaging technology would lead to better guidance for diagnosis, biopsy and minimally invasive treatment. Shtern said there needs to be a better initial screening test than the PSA test, perhaps a new blood or urine test focused on another biological indicator of prostate cancer.
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Action Update
Get in on the Conversation - Join ZERO's Online Community
ZERO's online community allows users to interact with each other through interest groups, personal blogs and discussion forums. The ZERO online community offers men several opportunities to discuss their experience with the disease with other affected men and their families. Recent community discussion topics include the importance of evaluating treatment options and the impact a new Administration may have on prostate cancer funding
If you are already a registered user on the ZERO Web site, you should be able to use your regular log-in and password to join the community. To set up an account, visit ZeroCancer.org/Community to set up your online profile.
Drive Against Prostate Cancer
On the Road with the Drive Against Prostate Cancer
Your support for the Drive Against Prostate Cancer can make a difference by helping us save more lives through early detection. We are now counting down to screening nearly 100,000 men since the program began.
All donations are tax-deductible. Remember, a gift of $30 provides a free test to a man who would otherwise go without one.
Have you had your yearly prostate cancer screening? Click here to find out when the Drive will be coming to a city near you in 2009!
RELATED LINKS
Next Stop: Georgia
Have you had your yearly prostate cancer screening? Click here to find out when The Drive will be coming to a city near you in 2009!
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