October 2021 • DALLAS MEDICAL JOURNAL 5
DCMS EVP/CEO
As the pandemic waves continue,
it is natural, appropriate, and
expected that the bulk of our
attention would be focused on
doing everything we can to stem the tide of
illness and death resulting from COVID-19.
Our lifetimes will forever be etched with
the memories of those in our families,
communities, and the profession who have
been afflicted by this virus.
However, no matter how deleterious the
pandemic has been, we must remember
that life and other health care challenges
continue to impact those we love. In
fact, it is sobering to know that almost
exactly twice as many Texans died due
to cancer in 2020 than the totality of the
COVID-19 outbreak (129,770 compared
to 62,323). This is certainly not to imply
a judgment that one disease process is
more important or impactful than another.
If anyone in your family has been affected
by either of these diseases, there is no
discrimination for the pain and suffering
that you may have endured. Rather, I share
this realization as a reminder that, while
we do everything we can to reduce the
impact of COVID-19, we too must continue
dedicating resources, research, education,
testing, and treatment for all forms of
cancer.
Sadly, I suspect nearly every family
has a story about a loved one touched
by some form of cancer. The American
Cancer Society has released its annual
estimate of new cancer cases for 2021.1
In Texas, female breast continues to be
the leading cancer with a predicted 20,900
cases, followed by lung (15,010), and
prostate (14,200). This closely mirrors
the predictions for the entire U.S. with
lung and prostate being reversed in the
national prediction. Of the 133,730 total
cancer cases expected in Texas next year,
sadly 42,840 people will succumb to their
disease. Not surprisingly, as with other
populous states, this places Texas third,
nationally, behind California and Florida
both in new cases and total deaths.
Every diagnosis and death related
to cancer is a call to action for more
research and better predictive tools to
reduce morbidity and mortality. Fortunately,
investments into cancer screening,
prevention, and therapy have resulted
in remarkable improvements in five-year
relative survival rates. For example, for
the three most prevalent forms of cancer
in Texas, the survival rates for prostate
cancer are 98%, and 90% for female
breast cancer. Lung cancers continue to be
a challenging cancer with a 20% survival
rate.2 However, as a testament to investing
in additional research and technologies
that foster early screening and detection,
lung cancer survival rates more than
double to 56% when the disease is caught
early.3
As with cancer and many other
disease processes, the acute nature
of the COVID-19 pandemic demands
that we advocate for strong public
health measures to mitigate its impact.
Continuing to advocate that our family
members, friends, and colleagues
take preventive measures like getting
vaccinated, wearing masks, and avoiding
large indoor gatherings is important
to reducing COVID-19’s impact at the
individual, family, and community levels.
We must also continue to support our
physicians on the front lines in critical
care units, emergency rooms, outpatient
clinics, and ICUs who are caring for those
who have contracted the virus. Likewise,
let’s not forget to encourage our family
members, friends, and colleagues to
keep current on their preventive wellness
screenings to stave off other significant
diseases, like cancer. DMJ
Jon R. Roth, MS, CAE
DCMS EVP/CEO
Keeping Focus Amid
the Chaos
Jon R. Roth, MS, CAE
Sadly, I suspect nearly
every family has a
story about a loved one
touched by some form
of cancer. The American
Cancer Society has
released its annual
estimate of new cancer
cases for 2021.
References:
1. https://cancerstatisticscenter.cancer.org/?_
ga=2.252369293.589334209.1632156838-
769127762.1632156838#!/data-analysis/module/
BmVYeqHT?type=barGraph
2. https://cancerstatisticscenter.cancer.org/#!/data-analysis/
SurvivalByStage
3. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-diseaselookup/
lung-cancer/resource-library/lung-cancer-fact-sheet
Source: American Cancer Society, 2021
cancerstatisticscenter.cancer.org