The Really Bad Reason For Decline in Cancer Rates

There is a really bad reason for declining cancer rates. That is when people lose their health insurance and stop going to the doctor. New research has recently found that as people lose their jobs, they lose their health insurance and stop going to the doctor so fewer cancer cases are diagnosed.

"As the country plunged into recession between 2008 and 2012, something unexpected happened: An earlier small decline in the number of new cancer cases became a much bigger one."

And...

"A 2015 analysis in the Journal of Cancer covering the years from 1973 to 2008 found that the incidence and treatment of cancer in the United States dropped during recessions and with increased unemployment rates.

During such periods, patients were perhaps more likely to forgo tests for early detection or ignore symptoms due to financial consideration, the researchers suggested."

Unfortunately this does make sense. If you lose your job and can't afford to pay Cobra coverage, medical visits will probably cease. If you don't see a doctor, you can't get diagnosed with anything. 

[This isn't a political post but now our new president wants between 14 and 24 million people to lose their health insurance. (Just saying....)]

This shows the value of health insurance. And its not just cancer. If you don't go to the doctor there are lots of other things that can also eventually kill you. If you don't have insurance, you really want to be careful about how you are feeling and if you do feel something is wrong, find some  place, any place (besides an Emergency Room) to get checked out. You are your best advocate.

Damn, the politicians.... But its not a political post.