Insurance a key in battling cancer

The American Cancer Society believes the United States will not eradicate cancer as a major health problem unless we all work to solve one of our greatest societal challenges - the 47 million uninsured and millions more underinsured in our country.

Given the progress we have made in prevention, early detection and life-saving cancer treatments that continue to push the survival rates higher, the American Cancer Society finds this situation intolerable. The society has launched a nationwide, nonpartisan public education campaign to call attention to this difficult problem. We will focus on the challenges faced by cancer patients who have no health insurance or whose coverage is inadequate to cover the costs of their care.

Research has shown that the uninsured are more likely to be diagnosed with more advanced cancers compared to those with insurance coverage. As a result, these individuals are at greater risk of death, and face much more difficult and far more expensive medical treatments, as well as diminished quality of life.

We also know that nearly half of uninsured cancer patients said they used up all or most of their savings as a result of the cost of cancer. Strikingly, one in five insured cancer patients said they used up all or most of their savings. And, four in 10 uninsured and underinsured cancer patients report skipping treatments, cutting pills or avoiding filling prescriptions due to cost.

To find out more about what the American Cancer Society is doing about this issue, visit www.cancer.org or call (800) ACS-2345.

Clement Rose, MD

president

American Cancer Society - Illinois Division

Chicago