Early Detection is a Win-Win

Cancer screening saves lives and healthcare costs

BY KAREN E. KNUDSEN, MBA, PH.D.

THE NATIONAL BURDEN of cancer is growing. This year, cancer diagnoses are at an all-time high—more than two million Americans will hear “you have cancer” for the first time, and over 7,000 of those will reside in Delaware. Employers will feel the burden in their employees’ health outcomes and their company’s finances. Cancer is already a top driver of employer healthcare costs and a major financial toxicity for businesses.

As a Delaware business leader, it is without question that you care about your employees’ quality of life, physical health, and wellbeing. You want your employees to be healthy and productive. However, an important aspect of employee health often goes overlooked: cancer screening and early detection. Cancer screening not only safeguards your employees’ well-being, but also serves as a strategic approach to mitigating rising healthcare costs.

The challenge of rising healthcare costs

Healthcare costs in the U.S. have been climbing steadily, placing a significant burden on businesses. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage reached nearly $24,000 in 2023, with employers covering a substantial portion of this expense. Cancer treatment is a major contributor to these costs, given the extensive resources required for latestage interventions, and the sustained impact of COVID-19 on delayed cancer diagnosis.

The role of cancer screenings

An abundance of data have demonstrated that regular cancer screening increases ability to detect certain cancers in early stages—before cancer has a chance to spread and become more difficult, if not impossible, to cure. For most cancers, early diagnosis significantly impacts survival rates (20-30%) and reduces cost compared to late-stage cancer diagnosis. For example, the cost of treating early-stage breast cancer can be up to five times less than treating advanced-stage disease.

Notably, benefits of early detection also can include less time off work for employees and fewer disruptions in productivity.

Healthy employees are more engaged, more productive, and positive contributors to the workplace.

Cancer screening not only safeguards your employees’ well-being, but also serves as a strategic approach to mitigating rising healthcare costs.

Your role as a leader

As a leader in the community, you can encourage your workforce to take advantage of cancer screenings. Here are some steps you can take:

Promote awareness: Communicate the importance of cancer screenings through internal newsletters, emails, and meetings.

Provide information: Ensure that employees are informed about the types of cancer screenings available and the recommended ages and frequencies for each. You can find info on cancer.org/getscreened, and/or partner with local healthcare providers to offer educational seminars.

Facilitate Access: Consider organizing on-site screening events, at-home screening through businesses like Color Health, or providing time off for employees to attend medical appointments. Collaborate with health insurance providers to ensure that cancer screenings are covered and easily accessible.

The larger impact

It is well established that cancer screening saves lives and has knockon effects that benefit society. Most critically, for the individual, early detection is linked to increased survival, higher quality of life, and reduced disruption. For loved ones and the community, early detection reduces caregiver burden. As an employer, there is an unquestioned benefit to employees, and a generally positive impact on organizational health. Finally, within Delaware, early detection has the potential to reduce strain on the state’s healthcare system, freeing up resources for other critical needs. Put simply, all boats rise with early detection, and we at the American Cancer Society are here to help.

Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, Ph.D., is CEO of the American Cancer Society and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.