Although heart and circulatory ills remain major causes of premature deaths in the United States, cancer probably remains our “scariest” disease.
Cancer also is said to be the world’s “costliest” disease.
The American Cancer Society has calculated that in 2008, the economic cost of cancer was $895 billion, accounting for 1.5 percent of the world’s gross domestic product.
Such calculations are quite general, for there are many costs that simply cannot be calculated exactly. In addition, there surely is an even greater emotional cost among cancer sufferers, their families and other loved ones.
The fight against cancer is going on vigorously, with progress in medication, radiation, surgery and other treatments. In addition, there are some means to alleviate or perhaps prevent the scourge.
Many of the potential causes of cancer are well-known – such as the use of tobacco. There are other dangerous behaviors that may be avoided or minimized to reduce vulnerability to cancer.
Among our defenses are awareness of dangerous behaviors, early detection and the availability of successful treatments.
All are important in the fight against our scariest and costliest disease.