Approximately 5 billion dollars a year are spent on Cancer Research via the National Cancer Institute. Slowly but surely, dents are being made in the monster clad armor called “Cancer”.
Despite this progress, cancer is anticipated to more than double by the year 2050, and close to 3 million people a year will hear the dreaded words: “you have cancer”. A blue ribbon panel, composed of Lance Armstrong and a distinguished physician from MD Anderson in Texas among others, blasted the Federal Government for not doing more.
Approximately 25 years ago, researchers stated that almost 1/3 of cancers are preventable. This remains true today. However, the amount of funding and support for preventing cancer, remains negligible. Additionally, our health care system continues to focus on disease, rather than prevention. Insurance does not reimburse disease prevention activities, such as counseling, education, outreach and behavioral or psychosocial interventions.
One estimate reported it would take 7.4 hours per day for a primary physician to implement all the preventive activities cited by the U.S. Preventive Task Force. These services are very time intensive and not reimbursed. Therefore, offices now have the non-professional staff implement the preventive standards, which is not effective, and outcomes remain the status quo.
Slowly, this may be changing. Drugs are now advocated to prevent breast cancer: Tamoxifen and Evista. Vaccinations are available to prevent cervical cancer.
Yet, our government turns its head away from the smoking epidemic, ignores the obesity crises, turns a blind eye to manufacturer’s use of saturated fats, salts, trans-fats, etc. in processing foods, and pays little attention to affirming physical activity as a treatment and prevention for a wide variety of diseases.
Source
President's Cancer Panel, 2006-2007 Annual Report
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