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Promoting Cancer Awareness in September

There was a time when cancer was considered incurable. However, that scenario has drastically changed over the years. Thanks in large part to advances in medical technology and treatments, the overall cancer mortality rate within the U.S. has continued to drop since the early 1990s, (according to the National Cancer Institute).

With over 100 different kinds of cancer, both incident rates and death rates vary from one type to another. The good news is that patient outcomes have vastly improved in a number of key categories:

• In recent years, certain cancers, such as lung cancer, have shown a sharp decline in mortality rates. Statistical evidence from the National Cancer Institute points to improved treatments making a substantial contribution to this outcome.


• According to St. Jude Research Hospital, childhood cancer outcomes have dramatically improved from the early 1960s when less than 20% of kids survived cancer. Today, approximately 80% of kids in the U.S. now beat their cancer diagnosis.


• Thanks to improved treatment and outcomes, as well as early detection through screening, a woman’s risk of dying from breast cancer has dropped 39% between the late 1980s and 2015, as per the American Cancer Society.

As you can see, progress is being made against the disease, but much work remains. What we know for certain is that information and education are the keys to cancer prevention, early detection and sound decision-making about treatment options.

As it relates to treatment, KJT conducted a recent study in partnership with a nationwide group of physicians to better understand how patients make decisions regarding their cancer care and how physicians make referrals throughout the process.

We explored perceptions of oncology care across various provider settings (community vs. academic) and affiliations (system vs. independent), the sources of information most trusted and used in the decision-making process, and how clinical trials and perceptions of cutting-edge care factor into decision-making.

The study helped our research partners to better understand the different outlooks, concerns and – ultimately – the decisions related to treatments for different types and stages of cancer.

In a month that’s chock-a-block with National Cancer Awareness initiatives and health campaigns, KJT is proud to contribute valuable new data and insights that help the industry continue to improve cancer patient outcomes.

Please join us in celebrating the many advances in cancer treatment, as well as supporting the cancer awareness programs that help people recognize the early signs and symptoms of cancer, enabling early diagnosis, leading to better treatment and better results.