Cancer

Cancer in New York

New York

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures 2022 report, it's estimated there will be over 1.9 million new cancer diagnoses in 2022. Breast cancer is the most common among women, accounting for 31% of cases. Among men, it is prostate cancer, which accounts for 27% of cases. 

The most significant risk factor for cancer is advancing age — half of all new cancer diagnoses occur in adults ages 66 and older. Other cancer risks include cigarette and tobacco use, environmental carcinogens, genetic factors and viral and bacterial infections. 

In 2015, the national cost of cancer care was approximately $182.7 billion and it is projected to rise to $246 billion by 2030 — a 34% increase. In addition, the estimated cost of lost productivity from cancer mortality was predicted to be $147.6 billion in 2020.

The prevalence of cancer is higher among: 

• Women compared with men.
• Adults ages 65 and older compared with adults ages 18-44.
• White compared with Asian adults.
• Those with some post-high school education compared with college graduates and those lower levels of education. 
• Adults with annual household incomes less than $50,000 compared with those with incomes of $75,000 or more.
• Those living in non-metropolitan areas compared with those in metropolitan areas.

While there is no universal cure for cancer, death rates can be lowered through various means, including: 

• Lifestyle changes: Quitting smoking at any age lowers the risk of developing cancer, and smoking is responsible for approximately 30% of cancer deaths. Engaging in more physical activity and reducing alcohol consumption are also associated with a lower risk of certain cancers. 
• Vaccination: The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine helps protect against cancers associated with HPV infection, especially among girls offered the vaccine at ages 12 or 13. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that up to 93% of cervical cancers could be prevented through HPV screening and vaccination. Additionally, the hepatitis B vaccine can help reduce the risk of liver cancer.
• Screening: Routine recommended screening for breast, colon and prostate cancer can improve outcomes by detecting cancer in its earlier stages. 

Increasing access to services for prevention, early detection and high-quality cancer treatment may help reduce racial and socioeconomic disparities in cancer deaths. Information on specific screening, counseling and prevention recommendations for cancer are available from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and The Community Guide.

Healthy People 2030 has multiple objectives related to cancer, including reducing the overall cancer death rate and increasing the proportion of adults who get screened for colorectal cancer.

Bradley, Cathy J., K. Robin Yabroff, Bassam Dahman, Eric J. Feuer, Angela Mariotto, and Martin L. Brown. 2008. “Productivity Costs of Cancer Mortality in the United States: 2000–2020.” JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute 100 (24): 1763–70. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djn384.

“Cancer Facts & Figures 2022.” 2022. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2022/2022-cancer-facts-and-figures.pdf.

Falcaro, Milena, Alejandra Castañon, Busani Ndlela, Marta Checchi, Kate Soldan, Jamie Lopez-Bernal, Lucy Elliss-Brookes, and Peter Sasieni. 2021. “The Effects of the National HPV Vaccination Programme in England, UK, on Cervical Cancer and Grade 3 Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Incidence: A Register-Based Observational Study.” The Lancet 398 (10316): 2084–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02178-4.

Joseph, Djenaba A. 2016. “Use of Evidence-Based Interventions to Address Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Screening.” MMWR Supplements 65. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su6501a5.

Mariotto, Angela B., Lindsey Enewold, Jingxuan Zhao, Christopher A. Zeruto, and K. Robin Yabroff. 2020. “Medical Care Costs Associated with Cancer Survivorship in the United States.” Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 29 (7): 1304–12. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-19-1534.