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How Money Matters in Cancer Survival

USAThursday, August 7, 2025
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Key Findings

  • Money plays a big role in how well people survive cancer.
  • Unhealthy habits explain only a small part of why poorer people have worse survival rates.
  • Stress, poor healthcare access, and living in areas with limited healthy food options are much bigger factors.

Lifestyle Changes Alone Aren't Enough

  • Over 70% of the survival gap comes from deeper issues.
  • Biological factors like stress-related inflammation.
  • Systemic problems like poor healthcare transitions.
  • Social issues like living in "food deserts" where healthy food is hard to find.
  • Digital tools to coach high-risk groups.
  • Policy changes like adding nutrition support to Medicaid.
  • Addressing root causes to ensure access to good healthcare, healthy food, and a safe environment.

Community-Based Strategies

  • Consider cultural factors that influence health behaviors.
  • Tackling these issues together can improve survival rates for everyone.

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