Cancer is the most famous health killer. I believe everyone hopes that cancer will disappear.
Then the question arises:
If we only talk about prolonging life span, how good is it to conquer cancer?
How many more years can we live without cancer?
To answer this question carefully, we need a lot of statistical data. It is estimated that everyone will feel numb before they start counting.
However, we can be lazy and simplify this problem to another calculation problem:
What is the average life expectancy (X) for people who do not die of cancer?
If we really eliminate cancer, the life span of all people should be close to X.
Unfortunately, this data cannot be found directly.
However, it is not difficult to roughly estimate this life span, as long as you know three figures: the national average life span (T), the proportion of people who died of cancer (B), and the average life span of people who died of cancer (C). The calculation method should be: C * B + X * (1-B) = T.
For example, in the United States in 2013, T = 78.5 years old, B = 22.5%, and C = 72.
Calculate and know that the average life expectancy (X) = 80.4 years for those who do not die of cancer.
In other words, if there were no cancer in the United States now, the average life expectancy of the whole population would change from 78.5 years to 80.4 years, an increase of only 1.9 years!
As for China, I haven’t found some data, so I can’t calculate, but I don’t think this figure will be very large either.
Since the impact is not great, is it still meaningful to eliminate cancer?
Of course it makes sense.
In fact, if you think about it carefully, you will know that there are too many human health killers. In fact, cancer accounts for less than 1/4, so even if cancer is eliminated, the impact will not be great.
Is it worth it for scientists to talk all their lives against cancer?
Dr. Clove thinks it is worth it. Although the average life expectancy of all mankind has increased only a little, the situation is quite different from the patient’s point of view.
For example, for American patients, if cancer is conquered, the average life span can be extended to 80.4 years, and 80.4-72 = 8.4 years more can be lived.
In fact, this has not been counted as the psychological value to patients and their families. Let them know that there is medicine to cure and give them hope to live. This alone may be priceless.
In addition, conquering different cancers has different effects on the life span of patients.
For example:
- The average age of death of brain tumor patients is 64 years old. If it can be eliminated, the life span of patients can be prolonged by 80.4-64 = 16.4 years. The average age of death of soft tissue tumor patients is only 59 years old. If it can be eliminated, the life span of patients can be prolonged by 80.4-59 = 21.4 years.
These types of cancer, which significantly affect middle-aged and even young patients, are the top priorities of cancer research and new drug development.
Is there any way to prolong life besides eliminating cancer?
Of course. Dr. Clove wants to reveal the answer by comparing the situation in Japan and the United States.
At present, the average life expectancy of Japanese is 83.1 years, ranking first in the world. The average life expectancy of Americans is 78.5 years, lower than that of Japanese, but their per capita medical expenses are more than three times that of Japan.
Why is this? One of the main reasons is the difference in lifestyle.
As we all know, the United States is not only the world’s largest economy, but also rich in fat people. Various chronic diseases caused by obesity consume a lot of medical resources in the United States and reduce people’s life span.
However, Japan’s recognition of a healthy lifestyle from the government to the citizens is higher than that of the United States, and its medical security system is relatively perfect. No wonder the average life expectancy will be longer.
The average life expectancy of Chinese is 76.1 years. Compared with the two countries, there is still room for improvement.
The level of economy and science and technology cannot be changed in a short period of time, but if ordinary people want to live long, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a very effective way.
Balanced diet, quitting smoking and drinking, active exercise and paying attention to physical examination, these humble living habits can just prolong life span.
The point is, most of these good habits will also help you save money. Why not?