Healthcare Death and Disease Analysis

Healthcare

Death and Disease Analysis for California

Cancer is a large collection of diseases that are distinguished by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. If the disease is not controlled or kept in check, it consequences in death. However, many cancers can be cured if detected and treated quickly, and a lot of others can be prevented by lifestyle changes, particularly by avoiding tobacco use. Between 1988 and 2009, California saw overall cancer occurrence rates decrease by 11%. In this same time period, mortality rates went down by 23%. However, it is still estimated that in 2012 144,800 Californians will be diagnosed with cancer. This is equal to more than 16 new cases every hour of every day. It is estimated that 55,415 people will die of the disease next year, which works out to almost 150 people every day (California Cancer Facts & Figures, 2012).

In 2004-2008, the overall cancer occurrence rate in California was lower that than of the entire nation. "California cancer incidence rates for Asian/Pacific Islanders, African-Americans, and non-Hispanic whites were between one and three percent lower than the nation. Hispanics in California had a nearly 9% lower incidence rate than other Hispanics in the nation" (California Cancer Facts & Figures, 2012).

Doctors frequently cannot clarify why one person develops cancer and another does not. But research shows that certain risk factors augment the chance that a person will develop cancer. These are the most widespread risk factors for cancer: growing older, tobacco, sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals and other substances, some viruses and bacteria, certain hormones, family history of cancer, alcohol and poor diet, lack of physical activity, or being overweight. A lot of these risk factors can be avoided. Others, such as family history, cannot be evaded. But people can help protect themselves by staying away from known risk factors whenever they can (Cancer Risk Factors, 2012).

In order to contain spending, the U.S. health care system needs to address rising rates of treated disease instead of requiring higher cost sharing from consumers (Thorpe, Florence, Howard & Joski, 2005). There are many things that the state of California is doing in order to help prevent Cancer in the state. The Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC) was started in 1974 as the Northern California Cancer Program. This institute works across all communities in order to:

investigate the causes of cancer by examining the genetic, environmental, and viral origins of cancers, and, once these causes have been recognized,

aid prevention by classifying where suitable intervention can stop cancer before its begins, and they make sure that cancer prevention and treatment strategies benefit all people everywhere by: watching the occurrence of cancer amid the general public, examining racial or ethnic-based disparities in cancer prevention strategies or care choices, educating the public in regards to cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship alternatives, and reaching out to underserved populations in order to make sure that they have equal access to these advances (Cancer Prevention Institute of California, 2012).