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Tag: American Cancer Society (ACS)

  • New Study Shows Insurance Coverage Disruptions Affect Key Cancer Screenings for U.S. Adults

    New Study Shows Insurance Coverage Disruptions Affect Key Cancer Screenings for U.S. Adults

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    ASCO Quality Care Symposium Abstract #116

    Newswise — ATLANTA, October 28, 2023 — A new study by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) shows that adults in the United States with prior insurance coverage disruptions are significantly less likely to receive guideline-concordant and past-year cancer screening, compared to people with continuous coverage. The guideline-concordant screening rates were 63.1% vs. 80.5% for breast cancer, 47.1% vs. 65.4% for colorectal cancer, and 73.1% vs. 80.0% for cervical cancer among people with private health insurance coverage. People without health insurance coverage had the lowest screening levels. The findings will be presented at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Quality Care Symposium in Boston, October 27 – 28, 2023.

    In the study, researchers, led by Kewei Sylvia Shi, associate scientist in health services research at the American Cancer Society, identified adults in the U.S. eligible for breast, colorectal, and/or cervical cancer screening from the 2010, 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2021 National Health Interview Surveys. Adults were categorized into five groups based on insurance type at the time of the survey and prior coverage disruptions (defined as any lack of insurance during the prior 12 months). Researchers looked at whether those eligible had screening ever, within the past year, and if the screening was concordant with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines available at the time of each survey.

    The research also showed that people with continuous private or public insurance coverage had higher rates of past-year screenings across all three cancer types studied, compared with their counterparts with prior coverage disruptions. Among those eligible for breast cancer screening, for example, past-year screening for individuals with private coverage with and without prior disruptions were 62.2% and 44.1%, respectively. Similarly, among people with public coverage, 51.4% with continuous coverage received breast cancer screening in the previous year, while 36.9% with prior coverage disruptions did.

    Researchers emphasized that these findings underscore the importance of stable health insurance coverage as part of a comprehensive approach to improve cancer screening rates and early detection of cancers when treatment is most effective.

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    About the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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  • New Study Shows Adults Treated for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Vulnerable to Hazards of Wildfires

    New Study Shows Adults Treated for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Vulnerable to Hazards of Wildfires

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    ASCO Quality Care Symposium Oral Abstract #302

    Newswise — ATLANTA, October 27, 2023 — New research by scientists at the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the University of California, San Francisco, shows individuals in the United States undergoing radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are exposed to wildfires near the treating facility have worse overall survival than unexposed individuals. The findings will be presented at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Quality Care Symposium in Boston, October 27 – 28, 2023.

    In the study led by Dr. Leticia Nogueira, scientific director, health services research at the American Cancer Society and senior author of the paper, scientists identified 228,138 patients who initiated definitive radiotherapy for nonoperative locally advanced NSCLC between 2004 and 2019 from the hospital-based National Cancer Database. Exposure was defined as a wildfire disaster declaration (identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency) in the county where the patient was being treated. Overall survival was defined as the age when radiation therapy started and the age of death, last contact, or study end.

    Study results showed individuals whose facility had a wildfire disaster declared within 12 weeks of their radiation start date had worse overall survival than unexposed individuals. 

      

    Researchers emphasized individuals undergoing radiotherapy for NSCLC are a vulnerable population to the hazards of wildfires. The unique needs and vulnerabilities of this vulnerable population must be prioritized in emergency preparedness and climate adaptation efforts of oncology institutions.

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    About the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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  • New Study Finds Limited Documentation of Cost Discussions With Patients Newly Diagnosed With Advanced Cancer

    New Study Finds Limited Documentation of Cost Discussions With Patients Newly Diagnosed With Advanced Cancer

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    ASCO QCS Abstract #3

    Newswise — ATLANTA, October 27, 2023 — A new study by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), shows only about a quarter of individuals newly diagnosed with advanced cancers had documented physician discussions about costs of care, which may hinder identifying patient needs and tracking outcomes of referrals for assistance. Growing costs of cancer care can result in financial hardship for patients, and many professional organizations recommend patient-physician discussions about expected treatment costs as part of high-quality care. Documentation of these discussions is critical as even privately insured patients may find care unaffordable without additional assistance. The study looked at documented discussions between physicians and individuals newly diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and melanoma, cancers with recent high-cost treatment advances, and found that cost discussions were documented in the medical records of 24.6% of NSCLC and 25.5% of melanoma patients.  “Out-of-pocket costs,” “patient assistance plan,” and “inability to pay” were the most commonly used terms. The findings will be presented at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Quality Care Symposium in Boston, October 27 – 28, 2023.

    In the study, researchers, led by Dr. Robin Yabroff, scientific vice president, health services research at the American Cancer Society, used data from patient medical records from the population-based NCI Patterns of Care study conducted in 12 SEER registries, which included individuals newly diagnosed in 2017-2018 with advanced-stage NSCLC and melanoma. The medical records were reviewed for reported cost discussions and analyzed along with information on patient-, treatment- and hospital- factors, including age, sex, race and ethnicity, comorbidities, and health insurance coverage.

    Researchers found that when documented, cost discussions were most often noted in physician and nursing progress notes and assessment plans. Results also showed that people with private insurance were less likely to have documented cost discussions when compared with those with public insurance. Cost conversations were much less common among people who did not receive systemic therapy or any cancer-directed treatment than those who received systemic treatments.

    Researchers emphasized that systemic documentation of cost-of-care discussions as part of high-quality care could help ensure informed decision-making for all patients and that lack of information in the medical record would limit assessment of patient risk of financial hardship and whether any patient unmet financial needs were addressed.

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    About the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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  • Early-Stage Cancer Diagnoses Decreased Sharply in the U.S. During First Year of COVID-19 Pandemic; Underserved Greatly Affected

    Early-Stage Cancer Diagnoses Decreased Sharply in the U.S. During First Year of COVID-19 Pandemic; Underserved Greatly Affected

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    Newswise — ATLANTA, August 1, 2023 – A new study from researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) found monthly adult cancer diagnoses decreased by half in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The largest decrease was for stage I cancers, resulting in a higher proportion of late-stage diagnoses. The study is the most comprehensive research to date about the effects of the first year of the pandemic on cancer diagnoses and stage in the nation. The paper was published today in the journal Lancet Oncology.

    “During the emergence of the pandemic, we know health care was disrupted in the U.S. and steep declines were reported for cancer screening services,” said Dr. Xuesong Han, lead author of the study and scientific director of health services research at the American Cancer Society. “These updated results for all major cancer types nationwide represent a more comprehensive view and continue to be concerning as decreased screening, as well as delayed and forgone routine check-ups or doctor visits, can lead to underdiagnosis of cancer, especially in early stages, where treatment is most effective.”

    For this study, using the latest national registry data, researchers identified a total of 2,404,050 adults newly diagnosed with cancer, including 830,528 in 2018, 849,290 in 2019, and 724,232 in 2020. The number of diagnoses for all stages decreased substantially following the COVID-19 emergence in the U.S. in March 2020, though monthly counts returned to near pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2020. The decrease was largest for stage I diagnoses, leading to higher odds of late-stage diagnoses in 2020 vs. 2019. The pattern was seen in most cancer types and sociodemographic groups, though it was most prominent among individuals who have historically experienced barriers in accessing health care, including individuals who are Hispanic, Asian American and Pacific Islander, uninsured, and living in the most socioeconomically deprived areas.

    “The estimates we present represent larger declines in the numbers of individuals diagnosed with early-stage cancers than in the numbers of individuals diagnosed with late-stage cancers,” added Han. “These findings likely reflect the time when individuals sought care or screening during the pandemic rather than a stage shift in cancer progression. More ongoing cancer surveillance with longer-term data is warranted to better understand the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” The American Cancer Society’s advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), continues to work at all levels of government to remove barriers to affordable screening through Medicaid and the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), a federal and state partnership in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 13 tribal organizations, two U.S. territories, and five U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands providing breast and cervical cancer screenings, diagnostic tests, and treatment referral services to communities that are limited-income, underserved, underinsured, and uninsured.

    “ACS CAN will continue to advocate for adequate funding for the NBCCEDP as well as work to obtain additional state appropriations which will preserve a critical safety net for those who continue to lack access to lifesaving screening, diagnostic, and treatment services. The program is critically important to helping to get screening rates back on track after a decline due to COVID,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of the ACS CAN. “With nearly four million individuals having lost coverage following the end of pandemic era continuous enrollment, we are also urging states to undertake a careful process to evaluate Medicaid eligibility to ensure coverage isn’t erroneously disrupted for those who have no other affordable coverage option. For many cancer patients, disenrollment from Medicaid means disruptions to treatment that could have life-threatening consequences.”

    Other ACS authors participating in this study include: Nova Yang, Dr. Leticia Nogueira, Dr. Nikita Wagle, Jingxuan Zhao, Kewei Sylvia Shi, Dr. Qinjin Fan, Elizabeth Schafer, Dr. Robin Yabroff, and Dr. Ahmedin Jemal.

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    About the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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  • New Study Shows More Deaths with Cancer as Contributing Cause During First Year of Pandemic

    New Study Shows More Deaths with Cancer as Contributing Cause During First Year of Pandemic

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    Newswise — ATLANTA, April 11, 2023 – In a new study, American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers discovered deaths with cancer as the underlying or primary cause decreased in the United States during the first year of the pandemic in 2020 compared to 2019, continuing the decreasing trend from prior years. In contrast, mortality rates with cancer as a contributing cause were higher in 2020 compared to 2019, reversing the decreasing trend from prior years. The study was published today in the Journal Oncology Practice (JOP).

    “Individuals living with cancer were at higher risk of COVID-19 infection and experiencing more severe symptoms due to their health conditions and treatment-related immune suppression,” said Jingxuan Zhao, senior associate scientist, health services research at the American Cancer Society and lead researcher on the study. “The stay-at-home orders and the discontinuation of non-emergency treatment to limit hospital capacity and reduce transmission at the beginning of the pandemic may have resulted in delayed cancer screenings, diagnoses, and treatments, and possibly contributed to increased mortality.”

    For the study, ACS scientists looked at data from the Underlying and Multiple Cause of Death database for the years 2015 through 2020, which is part of the CDC’s Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiological Research (WONDER) and produced by the National Center for Health Statistics. Researchers identified cancer-related deaths with invasive cancer listed as the underlying or contributing cause of death. Age-standardized cancer-related mortality rates for 2020 were compared to those for 2015-2019 and stratified by sex, race/ethnicity, urban or rural residence, and place of death.

    ACS scientists projected 19,703 more deaths with cancer as a contributing cause in 2020 than expected based on historical trends. Mirroring pandemic peaks, the monthly death rates with cancer as a contributing cause first increased in April 2020 (RR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.02–1.04), subsequently declined in May and June 2020, then increased again each month from July through December 2020 compared to 2019, with the highest rate ratio in December (RR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.06–1.08).

    “More research is needed to better understand the reasons for such an increase in deaths with cancer as a contributing cause,” said Zhao. “We need to continue monitoring the long-term cancer-related mortality trends and how the COVID-19 pandemic affected cancer diagnosis and receipt of care.”

    Other ACS authors participating in this study include: Dr. Xuesong Han, Dr. Zhiyuan Zheng, Dr. Leticia Nogueira, Dr. Farhad Islami, Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, and Dr. Robin Yabroff.

    The full study can be read here: https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/OP.22.00522

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    About The American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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  • American Cancer Society Releases New Colorectal Cancer Statistics; Rapid Shifts to More Advanced Disease and Younger People

    American Cancer Society Releases New Colorectal Cancer Statistics; Rapid Shifts to More Advanced Disease and Younger People

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    EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE – 10:00 a.m., ET– Wednesday, March 1, 2023

    Newswise — ATLANTA, March 1, 2023 – Colorectal cancer is swiftly shifting to more advanced disease and younger individuals according to Colorectal Cancer Statistics 2023, a new report on cancer facts and trends by the American Cancer Society (ACS). Researchers showed the proportion of individuals in the United States diagnosed with advanced-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) increased from 52% in the mid-2000s to 60% in 2019. In addition, diagnoses of people under 55 years of age doubled from 11% (1 in 10) in 1995 to 20% (1 in 5) in 2019. Overall, in 2023, an estimated 153,020 people will be diagnosed with CRC in the U.S., and 52,550 people will die from the disease. These major findings are to be published today in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, alongside its consumer-friendly companion, Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2023-2025, available on cancer.org.

    “We know rates are increasing in young people, but it’s alarming to see how rapidly the whole patient population is shifting younger, despite shrinking numbers in the overall population,” said Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, surveillance research at the American Cancer Society, and lead author of the report. “The trend toward more advanced disease in people of all ages is also surprising and should motivate everyone 45 and older to get screened.”

    CRC is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the U.S. CRC incidence declined rapidly in people 50 and older during the 2000s, largely because of increased screening with colonoscopy, which can prevent cancer by removing premalignant polyps. However, this progress has slowed over the past decade with decreasing trends now confined to people 65 and older.

    For the report, researchers used incidence data available through 2019 from 50 states and the District of Columbia from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute and the National Program of Cancer Registries of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as provided by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries. National mortality data available through 2020 were provided by the National Center for Health Statistics.

    Other key findings from the report include:

    • Progress against CRC has slowed from declines in incidence and mortality of 3%-4% per year during the 2000s to 1% per year for incidence and 2% per year for mortality during the past decade.
    • The CRC incidence rate was 33% higher in men (41.5 per 100,000) than in women (31.2 per 100,000) during 2015-2019, likely reflecting differences in risk factor prevalence, such as excess body weight, processed meat consumption, and historical smoking.
    • Declining incidence rates are confined to ages 65 and older since 2011; incidence rates have stabilized in ages 50-64 years and have increased by 2% per year in people younger than 50 years of age, as well as in people ages 50-54 years.
    • Diagnoses have shifted to more advanced disease; the proportion of cancers that are regional (spread to nearby lymph nodes, organs, or tissues) or distant (spread to distant organs/lymph nodes) stage increased from a low of 52% in the mid-2000s to 60% in 2019 despite increased screening.
    • CRC death rates have increased since around 2005 by 1% annually in people younger than 50 years and by 0.6% in people ages 50-54.
    • CRC incidence is highest in people who are Alaska Native (88.5 per 100,000), American Indian (46.0 per 100,000), or Black (41.7 per 100,000; versus 35.7 per 100,000 in Whites); mortality patterns are similar, with rates highest in people who are Alaska Native (50.5 per 100,000), American Indian (17.5 per 100,000), or Black (17.6 per 100,000; versus 13.1 per 100,000 in Whites).

    “We have to address why the rates in young adults continue to trend in the wrong direction,” said Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president, surveillance and health equity science at the American Cancer Society and senior author of the study. “We need to invest more in research to uncover the causes of the rising trends and to discover new treatment for advanced-stage diseases to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease in this young population, who are raising families and supporting other family members.”

    “These highly concerning data illustrate the urgent need to invest in targeted cancer research studies dedicated to understanding and preventing early-onset colorectal cancer,” said Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society. “The shift to diagnosis of more advanced disease also underscores the importance of screening and early detection, which saves lives.” 

    ACS’s advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), advocates for policy solutions that eliminate barriers to colorectal cancer screening, including those that ensure coverage of follow-on colonoscopies after a positive non-invasive test without cost sharing. In November 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized its rule for Medicare to cover colonoscopies after non-invasive screening tests and lower the minimum age of screening to 45. To date, 11 states have passed such laws that would eliminate cost-sharing and lower the screening age to 45.  ACS CAN will continue to advocate for the implementation of these policies at the state level.

    ACS authors Dr. Nikita Wagle and Dr. Robert Smith also participated in the study. The edition of Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2023-2025 introduces a major refresh of the ACS supplemental facts & figures reports, providing data in a more concise consumer-friendly format.

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    About the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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  • Suicide Risk Higher Among Individuals with Cancer, New Study Shows

    Suicide Risk Higher Among Individuals with Cancer, New Study Shows

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    EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE – 11:00 a.m., ET – January 20, 2023

    Newswise — ATLANTA, January 20, 2023 — According to a new large study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS), the risk of suicide for individuals diagnosed with cancer in the United States is 26% higher compared with the general population. Geographic, racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics contributed to the elevated risk. The study also shows a decline in elevated risk for individuals with cancer compared with the general population from 67% in 2000 to 16% in 2016. The research is to be published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open.

    “Our findings highlight the importance of timely symptom management and targeted interventions for suicide prevention in individuals with cancer,” said Dr. Xuesong Han, scientific director, health services research at the American Cancer Society and senior author of the study. “These require joint efforts by federal and state governments, as well as healthcare providers, to ensure comprehensive health insurance coverage for psycho-oncological, psychosocial, and palliative care, development of appropriate clinical guidelines for suicide risk screening, and inclusion of suicide prevention in survivorship care plans.”

    For the study, researchers analyzed data of 16.8 million individuals diagnosed with cancer in 43 states in the U.S. from 2000-2016. They used the Cancer Incidence in North America (CiNA) Survival dataset compiled by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR), which contained data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) SEER Registries. Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMR) were calculated based on attained age at death, sex, and race/ethnicity to compare suicide risks in individuals with cancer versus the general population. Cox proportional hazard models were fitted to identify cancer-specific risk factors of suicide among individuals diagnosed with cancer.

    The results showed 20,792 individuals with cancer died from suicide during 2000-2016. Compared to the general population, elevated suicide risk was observed across all sociodemographic groups, with particularly higher risks among Hispanics, Medicaid-insured, Medicare-insured aged under 64 years old, or uninsured. The highest suicide risk was observed in the first six months following a cancer diagnosis, with the rate more than seven times higher than the general population. Among individuals diagnosed with cancer, relatively higher suicide risks were observed for poor prognosis cancer types with high symptom burdens in the first two years following diagnosis, including cancers of oral cavity & pharynx, esophagus, stomach, brain, pancreas, and lung. After two years, individuals with cancers subject to long-term quality-of-life impairments, such as oral cavity & pharynx, female breast, uterine, bladder, and leukemia, had higher suicide risks.

    “The overall decreasing trend in suicide risk suggests a positive role of the coinciding promotion of psychosocial and palliative care and advances in symptom control and pain management,” said Xin Hu, Ph.D. candidate at Emory University and lead author of the study. “But more needs to be done. Examining the associations of clinical factors such as cancer treatments as well as policy factors with suicide risk and evaluating psychosocial interventions are important areas for future research.”

    Other ACS study authors include: Jingxuan Zhao, Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, Dr. Jiemin Ma, Dr. Leticia Nogueira, and Dr. Robin Yabroff.

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    About the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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  • Economic Loss from U.S. Cigarette Smoking Topped Almost $900 Billion in 2020, New Study Shows

    Economic Loss from U.S. Cigarette Smoking Topped Almost $900 Billion in 2020, New Study Shows

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    EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE – 6:30 p.m., EDT – September 28, 2022

    Newswise — ATLANTA, September 28, 2022 — New findings by the American Cancer Society (ACS) found cumulative economic losses from cigarette smoking topped $891 billion in 2020, or 4.3% of the United States Gross Domestic Product. The economic loss significantly outpaced the cigarette industry’s $92 billion revenue by nearly a ten-to-one ratio. The study was published today in the journal The Lancet Public Health.

    This economic modelling study is one of the first to provide a comprehensive measure of economic loss from cigarette smoking on a state-by-state level. On average, states lost $1,100.00 per capita income annually from cigarette smoking. Kentucky ($1,674.00), West Virginia ($1,605.00) and Arkansas ($1,603.00) suffered the largest per capita income losses, while Utah ($331.00), Idaho ($680.00) and Arizona ($701.00) had the smallest per capita income losses.

    “Economic losses from cigarette smoking far outweigh any economic benefit from the tobacco industry — wages, and salaries of those employed by the industry, tax revenue, and industry profit combined,” said Dr. Nigar Nargis, senior scientific director, tobacco control research at the American Cancer Society. “As a society, we can mitigate these economic losses through coordinated and comprehensive evidence-based tobacco control measures, which encourage people to quit smoking and prevent people from starting to smoke in the first place.”

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services set the Healthy People 2030 goal to reduce smoking from 14% of the adult population in 2018 to 5% by 2030. According to study authors, reaching this goal through tobacco control efforts at the national, state, and local levels would considerably reduce the economic loss attributable to smoking.

    “The Healthy People 2030 goal provides an important target that will help reduce smoking and correspondingly the negative economic impact of tobacco use,” said Nargis. “In addition, hitting this target will help divert scarce resources away from treating tobacco-related illnesses towards growing market productivity and household income.”

    “The damage this industry causes on individuals’ lives and our nation’s economy is horrifying,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “It’s particularly alarming, but not surprising, to see some of the states with the highest economic loss have the weakest tobacco control policies in place. We know what works to reduce tobacco use and lessen this burden and it’s past time we get it done. Passing policies proven to reduce tobacco use including regular and significant tobacco tax increases, adequate funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs and comprehensive smoke-free laws has a huge impact on reducing tobacco-related diseases like cancer and addressing the financial burden this product poses on state economies and the nation.”

    Dr. Ahmedin Jemal is senior author of the study. Other ACS authors include:  Dr. Samuel Asare, Zheng Xue, Dr. Anuja Majmundar, Dr. Priti Bandi, Dr. Farhad Islami, and Dr. Robin Yabroff.

    Resources from the ACS on quitting smoking can be found here.

     

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    About the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is on a mission to free the world from cancer. We invest in lifesaving research, provide 24/7 information and support, and work to ensure that individuals in every community have access to cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. For more information, visit cancer.org.

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