Each year in the United States, thousands of cases of cancer are diagnosed each day.
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2013 alone, approximately 1.6 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed. Though the death counts are considerably lower than the vast amount of diagnoses, they still reach well into the thousands. The American Cancer Society predicts that of those cases that are diagnosed in the United States, 580,350 will be fatal.
The deadliest cancer in the United States is lung cancer, taking lives of 159,480 Americans in one year. Prostate and breast cancers are the most diagnosed cases of cancer. The American Cancer Society predicts that prostate cancer will affect 238,590 men in 2013 and it is the most common type of cancer in males.
In females, the most common type is breast cancer, with 234,580 cases diagnosed this year. Though these two cancers are very common, they are not nearly as deadly as they used to be. Due to early detection and treatment, prostate cancer only takes 29,720 lives to 238,590 diagnoses. Breast cancer patients have a higher fatality rate of 40,030 deaths to 234,580 diagnoses.
Pennsylvania itself carries 79,560 of all cancer diagnoses and it places fifth in the highest numbers of state diagnoses this year. Pennsylvania falls just under California, Florida, Texas and New York, each with diagnosed patients in the 100,000s. 28,680 out of each of the 79, 560 cancer cases diagnosed in Pennsylvania will result in death. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths in Pennsylvania according to the American Cancer Society.
The American Cancer Society stresses the importance of health behaviors in cancer prevention. The most carcinogenic behavior is regular use of tobacco products. The second most attributing factor to cancer development is lack of physical exercise.
What is being done to terminate cancer? The American Cancer Society hosts a Cancer Prevention Study and enrolls 300,000 adults of all different ethnicities and backgrounds who do not have or have never had cancer. This study shows direct links between causes of cancer and the cancers themselves.
The American Cancer Society holds that this study is absolutely necessary to cancer prevention. The CPS-II Nutrition Cohort is also ongoing and focuses on diet and its effect on cancer development. CPS II ranges from light to very in depth, focusing on surveys and even blood analysis.
Being that the American Cancer Society is nonprofit, it relies mostly on grants and volunteer work.
An interesting development that was published in 2011 by the American Cancer Society was the direct link between specific hospitals and level of care. The study showed that hospitals that took in more patients without insurance were less likely to perform lifesaving surgeries.
Pennsylvania alone has been given 52 grants to aid in the development of cancer treatment. These grants will all be used in the next few years to aid research and development.
These grants add up to about $27.5 million funding that goes into cancer research and patient treatment. Grants range from $100,000 to dollar amounts in the millions.
The American Cancer Society is turning 100 this year and has saved countless lives through projects such as Relay for Life, Coaches Against Cancer, and Daffodil Days.
They stress the importance that donations and volunteer work hold. They also provide support and treatment for those affected by the disease. Their website, cancer.org, shows how donation money is used toward development and research.
