Cancer is Number One Killer in Nearly Half of U.S. States
By: CPR @ Mar 07, 2016
For years, the number one killer in the majority of states was heart disease. Now, while the rates of death from both diseases are on the decline, cancer has replaced heart disease as the most common cause of death in 22 states.
Rates of Death from Heart Disease Drop
The reason that cancer has surpassed heart disease as the number one killer is not because cancer is suddenly more aggressive or that cancer treatments have been rendered ineffective. Rather, the rate of death from both diseases has declined over the past 25 years, although heart disease has been reduced at a sharper pace. According to a report published by the American Cancer Society, since 1991, the cancer death rate has fallen by 23 percent. The death rate from heart disease, over the same time period, fell 46 percent.
Who Cancer Targets Most
According to an article published in the Houston Chronicle, the death rate from cancer hits some groups particularly hard. Those who are most at risk of death from the disease include adults ages 40-70, Hispanics, and Asians. The American Cancer Society suggests that there will be approximately 1.7 million new cases of cancer diagnosed this year (not exclusively amongst those in the groups mentioned above), and close to 600,000 cancer-related deaths.
The 22 states in the nation where cancer is now the number one killer include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Treating Cancer and Heart Disease: Medical Care Matters
When it comes to treating both heart disease and cancer, which continue to take thousands of lives every year, timely medical treatment is a key factor. Diagnosing a patient’s condition early on, ensuring that the patient’s medical history and treatment are well-documented, and treating a patient with a high level of care are essential. Unfortunately, too many people who suffer from cancer (and other diseases) do not receive the level of care that they deserve. Common errors include diagnostic errors, medication errors, communication errors, and other treatment mistakes. When these errors occur, a patient’s condition may worsen, and the patient may die as a direct result. Such has been the case with many victims of medical malpractice and their families.
An Experienced Medical Malpractice Law Firm Serving Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Many times, doctors and nurses do everything that they can to prevent a patient’s condition from deteriorating into death. However, there are also cases where a patient’s death or harm would not have occurred but for physician negligence. This is something that no one deserves.
If you are a victim of medical malpractice, the experienced medical malpractice attorneys serving Pennsylvania and New Jersey at the law firm of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. would like to meet with you today. During your free consultation with our lawyers, you can learn more about your rights to file a malpractice claim. Contact us now using our online form.
