How Money Matters in Cancer Survival

Money plays a big role in how well people survive cancer. A recent study showed that unhealthy habits explain only a small part of why poorer people have worse survival rates. Things like stress, poor healthcare access, and living in areas with limited healthy food options are much bigger factors. Lifestyle changes can help, but they're not enough on their own. Over 70% of the survival gap comes from deeper issues. These include biological factors like stress-related inflammation, systemic problems like poor healthcare transitions, and social issues like living in "food deserts" where healthy food is hard to find.To fix this, experts suggest a mix of solutions. They recommend using digital tools to coach high-risk groups and pushing for policy changes, like adding nutrition support to Medicaid. But the biggest need is addressing the root causes. This means making sure everyone has access to good healthcare, healthy food, and a safe environment. Community-based strategies are also key. These should consider cultural factors that influence health behaviors. By tackling these issues together, survival rates can improve for everyone.