Flight Plan to Equity

Cancer Timeline Simulator

The stage at which cancer is diagnosed often plays a significant role in determining a patient’s prognosis. At diagnosis, cancer is typically staged from 0 to IV or categorized as localized (stage I), regional (stage II), and advanced (stage III and IV), with each advancing stage referring to an increase in the extent and spread of cancer. For many cancers, diagnosis often occurs at later stages, after symptoms have developed.

Flight Plan to Equity

An interactive simulator illustrating the patient impact of early detection in cancer tumor types.

Statistically, Black Americans are more likely to develop colon cancer than any other group. And both Black and Hispanic Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer at later stages. This is partly due to differences in access to screening and healthcare. Among the four most common cancers in the U.S., colorectal cancers occur more often in rural populations. AI/AN people had higher incidence rates during 2014-2018 for colorectal cancer.

What to know about colon cancer:
It occurs in the colon or rectum, often starting as a polyp or small growths that can develop into cancer over time
It doesn't always cause symptoms, especially in early stages
Can be detected in early stages through screening and while some polyps are not harmful, others can develop into cancer over time.

571,700 hospitalizations related to colorectal cancer in 2006

89.9% five-year relative survival rate in stage 1

Localized cancer: Stages I and II This means that cancer cells have only been found in the colon or rectum, where the cancer was initially discovered. Localized colorectal cancer is the most curable and can be caught with colorectal cancer screening. This often pertains to stage I and stage II colon or rectal cancers. 39% of all colorectal cancer cases are localized 89.9% five-year relative survival rate.

Costs of Colrectal Cancer Care averages $113889

89.9% five-year relative survival ratein stage 2

Localized cancer: Stages I and II This means that cancer cells have only been found in the colon or rectum, where the cancer was initially discovered. Localized colorectal cancer is the most curable and can be caught with colorectal cancer screening. This often pertains to stage I and stage II colon or rectal cancers. 39% of all colorectal cancer cases are localized 89.9% five-year relative survival rate

If everyone followed colorectal cancer screening guidelines, 33,000 lives would be saved each year in the U.S

71.3% five-year relative survival rate in stage 3

35% of all colorectal cancer cases are regional
Regional Cancer: Stage III
Regional colorectal cancer means that cancer cells were also found in the lymph nodes surrounding the tumor or tissues. This most often pertains to stage III.

35% of all colorectal cancer cases are regional
71.3% five-year relative survival rate
Distant Cancer: Stage IV
Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is distant cancer. This means the cancer is not just in the colon or rectum. These statistics apply to patients with metastases to the liver, lungs, or other organs. Metastatic colorectal cancer is also referred to as stage IV.

End of life care averages $111,408 for individuals with Colorectal Cancer Care

14.2% five-year relative survival rate in stage 4

Distant Cancer: Stage IV
Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is distant cancer. This means the cancer is not just in the colon or rectum. These statistics apply to patients with metastases to the liver, lungs, or other organs. Metastatic colorectal cancer is also referred to as stage IV.

22% of all colorectal cancer cases are distant
14.2% five-year relative survival rate

There were nearly 571,700 hospitalizations related to colorectal cancer in 2006, or nearly 191.4 stays per 100,000 population. Average annualized costs were $55 845, $5313, $92 476, and $ 24 235 in the initial, continuing, EOL cancer, and EOL noncancer phases of colorectal cancer. In all phases of care, average annualized cancer-attributable costs were higher for younger ages, races other than white, and more advanced stages. Stage at diagnosis had the greatest effect on costs. For patients diagnosed with stage I vs stage IV CRC, costs were, respectively, $37 200 and $113 889 in the initial phase and $75 070 and $111 408 in the EOL cancer death phase.

Black men are 73% more likely than white men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than twice as likely to die from the disease. Hawaiian men had the lowest incidence of but the highest mortality from prostate cancer. Prostate is the most common cancer in Hispanic men and women; prostate cancer rates. Screening helps prevent 1 out of 1,000 prostate cancer deaths and helps prevent 3 out of 1,000 prostate cancers from spreading.

Black men are 73% more likely than white men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

100% five-year relative survival rate in stage 1

Stage1: As long as the cancer has not spread, it is almost a 100% survival rate over 5 years It’s estimated that $22.3 billionTrusted Source was spent on the treatment of prostate cancer in the United States in 2020. Annual per-patient costs for prostate cancer that same year were about:
$28,000 for early stage care
$2,600 for continued care
$74,000 for care in the last year of life

Prostate cancer is estimated to cause 34,500 deaths in 2022.

100% five-year relative survival rate in stage 2

Stages 2: As long as the cancer has not spread, it is almost a 100% survival rate over 5 years. It’s estimated that $22.3 billionTrusted Source was spent on the treatment of prostate cancer in the United States in 2020. Annual per-patient costs for prostate cancer that same year were about:

$28,000 for early stage care
$2,600 for continued care
$74,000 for care in the last year of life

Prostate cancer is estimated to account for 268,490 cancer diagnosis in 2022.

100% five-year relative survival rate in stage 3

Stage 3: As long as the cancer has not spread, it is almost a 100% survival rate over 5 years. It’s estimated that $22.3 billionTrusted Source was spent on the treatment of prostate cancer in the United States in 2020. Annual per-patient costs for prostate cancer that same year were about:

$28,000 for early stage care
$2,600 for continued care
$74,000 for care in the last year of life.

End of life care averages $74,000 for individuals with prostate cancer

30% five-year relative survival rate in stage 4b. (In 4a, as long as the cancer has not spread there is still a nearly 100% survival rate.)

Stage 4a: As long as the cancer has not spread, it is almost a 100% survival rate over 5 years. Stage 4b: 30% survival rate. It’s estimated that $22.3 billionTrusted Source was spent on the treatment of prostate cancer in the United States in 2020. Annual per-patient costs for prostate cancer that same year were about:

$28,000 for early stage care
$2,600 for continued care
$74,000 for care in the last year of life.

Black women are less likely than white women to be diagnosed with localized-stage breast cancer (57% versus 67%) and lower survival for every stage of disease. Breast cancer surpassed lung cancer in 2019 to become the leading cause of cancer death among Black women. Breast cancer incidence and mortality were highest among Native Hawaiian women compared to any other racial or ethnic group. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Hispanic women.

Across the nation, mammograms prevent 12,000 deaths each year.

Mammograms save an estimated 12,000 lives each year.

98% five-year relative survival rate in stage 1

98-100%
Likelihood of five year survival rate for women diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer. The power of early detection saves lives for thousands of women each year.

For women diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer (small, localized tumors), these medical costs totaled $48,477, on average, 6 months after diagnosis. The total rose to $71,909 after 2 years.
For stages I and II (tumors had not grown deeply into nearby tissues), the range was $61,621-$97,066.

$48,477 is the average cost of care for stage 1 breast cancer in the first six months.

90% five-year survival rate in stage 2

90-99% Likelihood of five year survival rate The cost total for this stage ranges starts at $71,909 after 2 years.
For stages I and II (tumors had not grown deeply into nearby tissues), the range was $61,621-$97,066.

Brest cancer is estimated to take 43,780 lives in 2022.

85% five-year relative survival rate in stage 3

85% average likelihood of five year survival rate. For stage III (larger tumors that spread to nearby areas), costs range from $84,481-$159,442.

The average survival rate for stage IV breast cancer is three years.

22% five-year relative survival rate in stage 4

The five-year survival rate for stage 4 breast cancer is 22 percent; median survival is three years. The range of costs are $89,463-$182,655.

Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer death among Black men. Hawaiian men and women, and lung cancer mortality were highest in Native Hawaiian women compared to the other population groups in the state. Among the four most common cancers in the U.S., lung cancers occur more often in rural populations. AI/AN people had higher incidence rates during 2014-2018 for lung cancer.

More than 10,000 American lives have been saved since lung cancer screening was introduced for high-risk people who are over 55 and have a history of smoking, a new study shows.But many poor people and those in ethnic/racial minority groups are still missing out on the benefits of screening for the world's leading cause of cancer death, researchers noted. To assess the impacts of the 2013 introduction of low-dose CT scans for high-risk people in the United States, the researchers analyzed data from two large cancer registries.They found a 3.9% per year increase in early (stage 1) detection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and an average 11.9% per year increase in median all-cause survival from 2014 to 2018.Those increases in the early detection saved 10,100 U.S. lives, according to the authors of the study, published in the BMJ.

Lung cancer has the highest mortality rates with an estimated 130,180 deaths occuring in 2022.

54% five-year relative survival rate in stage 1

54 percent five year survival rate at this stage. In SEER database analysis, 60% of lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy experienced unplanned hospitalization, averaging 1.5 hospitalizations per patient and a median cost of $31,036 per hospitalization (all between stages of 1-3).

Drugs and therapy for lung cancer can cost as much as $4,000 per month.

35% five-year relative survival rate in stage 2

35 percent five year survival rate in this stage. In SEER database analysis, 60% of lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy experienced unplanned hospitalization, averaging 1.5 hospitalizations per patient and a median cost of $31,036 per hospitalization (all between stages of 1-3).

60% of Lung Cancer Patients Experiences Unexpected Hospitalizations

10% five-year relative survival rate in stage 3

10 to 15 percent five year survival rate for this stage. In SEER database analysis, 60% of lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy experienced unplanned hospitalization, averaging 1.5 hospitalizations per patient and a median cost of $31,036 per hospitalization (all between stages of 1-3) with a mean of 1.5 hospitalizations per patient and a median Medicare charge of $31,036 per hospitalization (all between stages of 1-3).

For lung cancer, surgery is almost always needed which can cost at least $15,000.

2% five-year relative survival rate in stage 4

Less than 2 percent five year survival rate. For lung cancer in particular. Treatment typically involves: surgery which can cost $15,000 or more; chemotherapy, which can cost $10,000 -$200,000 or more; radiation therapy, which can cost $10,000-$50,000 or more; and/or drug therapy, which can cost as much as $4,000 or more a month depending on the drug used. For instance, ranibizumab (Lucentis) costs about $1,600 a dose, while Erlotinib (Tarceva) costs $3,500 a dose.

Hispanic women have an approximately 43 percent higher risk of cervical cancer incidence and 20 percent higher risk of death compared to non-Hispanic white women. AI/AN people had higher incidence rates during 2014-2018 for cervical cancers that are caused by infectious agents. Screening has helped lower the U.S. cervical cancer death rate by more than 50% in the last 30 years.

Cancer screening for cervical cancer has decreased the death rate by 50% in the last 30 years.

95% five-year relative survival rate in stage 1

Around 95 out of 100 people (around 95%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis. The mean overall medical care cost was $39,187 in the 1st year after diagnosis. Costs in year 1 ranged from $34,648 (se: $1,275) for those who survived at least 1 year to $69,142 (se: $4,818) for those who died from cervical cancer within 1 year.

Hispanic women have a 43% higher risk for cervical cancer compared to white women.

70% five-year relative survival rate in stage 2

Almost 70 out of 100 people (almost 70%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.

Cervical cancer will account for 14,100 new cancer cases in 2022.

89.9% five-year relative survival rate in stage 3

Almost 70 out of 100 people (almost 70%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.

After five years of diagnosis with cervical cancer, the average cost of care came out to $63,131.

15% five-year relative survival rate in stage 4

Around 15 out of 100 people (around 15%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after being diagnosed. At 5 years after diagnosis, the mean overall unadjusted cost was $63,131 (se: $3,131), and the cost adjusted for censoring was $68,745 (se: $2,963). Inpatient hospitalizations and cancer-related care were the two largest components of cancer treatment costs.

Beyond the Big Five

According to the American Cancer Society, in 2022 in the U.S., there will be an estimated 1,918,030 new cancer cases and 609,360 cancer deaths. The cancers that are predicted to be diagnosed the most are Breast, Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, Melanoma and bladder. Two of which are not traditionally covered by the MCED system. Of those predicted to cause the highest deaths (Lung, Colorectal, Pancreas, Breast, Prostate and Liver), three of the cancers are not traditionally covered by MCED.

Cancers without screenings are more likely to be found in the later stages for individuals who are Black, Hispanic or American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) compared to non-Hispanic White individuals. In recent decades, significant scientific, clinical, and technological advancements have helped improve cancer outcomes.

Potential Metrics of Success In Early Screening

  1. Increased Established Screenings in Vulnerable Communities
  2. Increased MCED Screenings in Vulnerable Communities
  3. Increased Awareness of Importance of Early Detection/Treatment and Screenings
  4. Policy Change to Reduce Barriers to Early Detection and Treatment for Vulnerable Communities

Learn More About Our Work With Colon Cancer

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National Minority Quality Forum is a research and educational organization dedicated to ensuring that high-risk racial and ethnic populations and communities receive optimal health care. This nonprofit, nonpartisan organization integrates data and expertise in support of initiatives to eliminate health disparities.

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