Inside: Medical
Special Section Medical
A Special Section of The Washington Diplomat
VOLUME 23, NUMBER 2
t
February 2016
FEBRUARY 2016
WWW.WASHDIPLOMAT.COM
Cost of Cancer For Cancer Survivors, Expenses
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United States
Presidential Jockeying Reveals Peculiarities Of American Politics
Keep Mounting t HEALTHDAY
NEWS
cancer diagnosis is costly, and new research suggests it remains costly even that after the disease has been treated. “Cancer survivors are facing high costs even economic burden is substantial,” after years. The said study author Zhiyuan health services researcher Zheng, senior at the American Cancer Society’s Surveillance and Health Services Research program. For example, the study found that non-elderly survivors of colon cancer had extra faced about $17,000 in extra expenses of about $20,000 expenses, and older survivors annu- of breast cancer ally. Those extra expenses had about $14,000 in extra included direct medical costs, medical costs well as lost productivity. For survivors of breast cancer as and lost productivity, the study found. der 65, the economic burden unThe findings are scheduled totaled for publication in the May prostate cancer it was approximatelyabout $14,000, and for sue of the Journal isof the National $9,000, the research revealed. A previous study — published Cancer Institute. For elderly people, colon journal Cancer — also revealed in the October issue of the cancer survivors had extra significant economic fallout costs of about $19,000 a year. Senior prostate cancer survivors 26
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We need to understand the long-term effect of higher expenses, not just emotionally but also in terms of how it affects choices that patients make about treatment.
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KATHRYN WEAVER
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SERBIA EYES EU
The fight for the White House is in full swing. But getting to the point where you can enjoy all of the perks of being president first requires that you navigate the U.S. election process, and that takes perseverance, a thick skin and an appetite for the quirks and peculiarities that make up an American election. / PAGE 7
Twenty years after the Dayton accords brought peace to the bloodstained Balkans, few Europe-watchers would call the relationship between Belgrade and Brussels a budding romance. Nevertheless, once-isolated Serbia is finally getting serious about joining the European Union — even as the continent’s worst refugee crisis since World War II threatens to sink the EU itself. / PAGE 15
United States
Omnibus Spending Bill Doesn’t Shortchange Foreign Affairs Budget After years of partisan wrangling, a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill passed Congress with surprisingly little rancor. Parsing the sweeping funding package for fiscal 2016 reveals ample funding for foreign aid programs, and a telling diplomatic security provision for a post-Benghazi era. / PAGE 11
Culture
Embassies on Display In 2016 Winternational Over 30 embassies came out to show their wares in a colorful midday celebration of culture, travel and tourism. / PAGE 30
People of World Influence
Diplomatic Spouses
Tech Guru Foresees Innovative Future
Long Commute for Hungarian Husband
In “The Industries of the Future,” Alec Ross, one of America’s foremost innovation experts, ponders how technology is transforming not only business and diplomacy, but also everyday lives. / PAGE 5
Szabolcs Ferencz, a senior vice president with Hungary’s top oil and gas company, shuttles between D.C. and Budapest to support his wife, the country’s first female ambassador to the U.S. / PAGE 33