According to the latest statics, cancer claimed more than an estimated 600,000 lives in 2015, totaling 8.7 million years of life. (Photo: Shutterstock)
As terrible as the toll is on human lives, the cost of cancer doesn't leave the country's economy unscathed.
A new study from the American Cancer Society published in JAMA Oncology finds that fighting cancer pays off not just in human lives but also in economic terms. “When you invest in cancer prevention, treatment, and screenings, you don't just save lives. There are also substantial financial benefits,” said Dr. Farhad Islami, scientific director of surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and a coauthor of the study.
According to the latest statics, cancer claimed more than an estimated 600,000 lives in 2015, totaling 8.7 million years of life, but it also cost the economy some $94.4 billion in lost wages. That number could be even higher, since people younger than 16 or older than 85 were not included in that toll.
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Marlene Satter
Marlene Y. Satter has worked in and written about the financial industry for decades.
