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The CATCHUM Project was created in
response to the serious lack of preparation among Texas medical
schools evidenced by facts such as these about cancer:
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The 2nd leading cause of
death in the United States, cancer is expected to surpass
cardiovascular disease in the next decade as the population grows
and ages.
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In Texas, estimates call
for 79,700 new cancer diagnoses and 34,500 deaths from the disease
in 2002.
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The national overall cost
for cancer is estimated at $107 billion annually.
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Breast, lung, and prostate
cancers account for more than half the $37 billion spent for direct
medical costs.
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Preventive interventions
and early detection of cancer can improve outcomes dramatically.
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Opportunities for
prevention and screening are greatly underused in physicians'
offices.
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Advising patients to change
their health-related behaviors is not enough.
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Medical schools
fail to adequately prepare future physicians to become effective
agents in cancer prevention and control.
For more details on the
factual background,
CLICK HERE
The stages of the consortium's development are detailed under the
tab HISTORY. |
