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As the second leading cause of death, cancer is still claiming more and more lives in poorer regions of the country, in spite of medical advancements.
Researchers have recently discovered that while the country experiences a decline in cancer death rates, some states have registered a visible increase in the number of individuals who lose their battles with the disease. It seems that people living in poorer communities are more susceptible to various forms of cancer, in spite of medical advancements and preventive measures that have, so far, yielded extraordinary results.
Health experts discovered that cancer death rates increased by 50 percent in states that also have higher rates of smoking and obesity and are relatively poor. In the meantime, cancer death rates have dropped by nearly half in regions that promote healthier lifestyles.
Lead author of the study, Ali Mokdad, also a professor at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Washington expressed his concerns about the spike in cancer-related deaths as the Affordable Care Act was supposed to prevent such occurrences.
Similar studies have been conducted in the past. However, the latest one, which was also published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on January 24th provides detailed estimates for deaths in all U.S. counties, for 30 types of cancer recorded in the last 35 years.
Hence, the researchers observed a 20 percent decline in cancer-related deaths between 1980 and 2014. During that period, however, more than 19 million Americans died from some form of cancer. Nevertheless, in Colorado, the cancer death rate dropped by 50 percent, while an opposing trend was registered in Kentucky, where cancer-related deaths soared by 45 percent.
Health experts nationwide deemed the latest findings unacceptable as they argued the United States invests more than any other nation in proper healthcare. However, some say not all citizens afford the costs. At the moment, Trump administration’s stance on healthcare is still unknown. However, many supporters hope the new President will focus on health issues as equally as he seems to have taken interest in space missions. The data used in the latest survey was pulled from U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. government death records.
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Jason Leathers
Jason is a graduate of Biology and Chemistry, who wishes he had more time to spend travelling, immersing himself in new cultures and enjoying the outdoors. He is keen on digging for the latest news pertaining to pharmacology, medical stories and science related topics. From delving into these sources to creating compelling stories that are attractive for his readers, Jason enjoys every moment of it.
