A race against cancer

On a chilly autumn day, waves of runners and cheering throngs reflected a warm human spirit to a nation encumbered by health and economic woes. New York City marathoners seemed like a multi-hued tapestry woven of stories propelling each individual towards the finishing line. A common theme emerging among the numerous tales of overcoming personal and health struggles was facing the group of diseases collectively known as cancer. According to the World Health Organization, the global number of deaths from cancer will increase by nearly 80% by 2030, without immediate action – a fact not lost on runners representing different foundations. While research suggests that one-third of cancer deaths can be avoided through prevention, the goal of reducing the fatalities due to this disease (more than 1,500 Americans a day, based on estimates for 2012) through effective prevention strategies remains elusive. Indeed, the economic toll from cancer has been estimated to be nearly 20% higher than heart disease, the second leading cause of economic loss ($895 billion and $753 billion respectively).

Chang et al. reported mean monthly health care costs ranging from $2,187 for prostate cancer to $7,616 for pancreatic cancer (based on US claims data processed during 1999 to 2000), most often driven by hospitalization. To the runners striding through the five Manhattan boroughs for this cause, the high cost of fighting for one’s life could best be understood in terms of those closest to them – the cancer survivors. Individuals could probably tell stories about the frustrations experienced in managing health insurance issues, seeking legal/social aid from institutions in order to pay for their expensive treatments, and attempting to navigate the opportunities and challenges of Obamacare.

However, each step along the 26.2 mile route was infused with hope. Armed with the knowledge about how to weigh risks and benefits of cancer therapies and hopeful that compassionate use of experimental drugs may alleviate suffering, these health warriors paced themselves to the sounds of cheering supporters. For every setback a survivor might face, there would be lessons to be learned by the scientific community and a raft of patient advocacy organizations to potentially translate advances in the field to patients. Yesterday they crossed the finishing line and today they laced up sneakers for the continued race against cancer.