According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 16.9 million people in the United States were cancer survivors in 2019, and that number will grow to more than 20.1 million by 2030. The number testifies to the rapid development of new treatments for the disease and improvements in techniques for managing it. However, in Colorado, cancer is the leading cause of death, and about 50 percent of men and 40 percent of women in the state will be diagnosed with the disease at least once. These numbers raise important questions for public health experts. What can medical providers, businesses, and government do to construct a society that allows individuals not only to survive cancer but also to thrive? And what more can be done to prevent cancer in the first place?
Several Colorado School of Public Health researchers are focused on the science of cancer prevention and control, with an overall goal to decrease the burden of cancer in Colorado. Coordinated through the University of Colorado Cancer Center, many of the school’s faculty are actively involved in cancer research and screening programs. From genetic epidemiology to nutrition and environmental health, ColoradoSPH faculty are advancing our collective understanding of what causes cancer, how to better detect the disease, and how behavior can impact survivorship.
