Doubling funding for research focused on women and lung cancer would have huge financial implications for families and the nation, according to a new report released today by Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM), which commissioned the RAND Corporation for creating this lung cancer study. to women. According to rigorous models based on a number of conservative estimates, even 0.1 percent health improvements in mortality and quality of life would yield a return on investment of $1,200 for every additional dollar spent. Today’s findings mirror three previous studies from WHAM, conducted by The RAND Corporation, showing similar findings regarding the strength of women’s health research investment related to Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
For lung cancer, this is especially critical because in the US, lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in women. More women are dying from lung cancer (an estimated 61,000 in 2022, according to CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians) from breast, ovarian and cervical cancer combined. And female nonsmokers are more than twice as likely to develop lung cancer as their male counterparts, yet gender differences in the disease have yet to be thoroughly examined and only 15 percent of lung cancer research focuses on women. Lung cancer research receives the least amount of funding of the major cancers affecting women. The new report is a first-of-its-kind micro-simulation model that examines the socioeconomic impacts of investments in women’s health research in the US—revealing critical gaps in the nation’s current research portfolio and the potential gain for the economy through greater funding. New research examines the return on investment if research funding for women and lung cancer were doubled. Assuming that additional research produces health improvements of only 0.1 percent or less in age incidence, mortality, and quality of life, the nation can reliably predict the following payoff:

For the US population aged 25 and over, more than 22,700 years can be saved for 30 years of extended life, with significant benefits in health-related quality of life. About 2,500 more work years (valued at $45 million in labor productivity) result from increased work time and longer life expectancy.

In total, doubling the investment would have an expected return on investment of more than 1,200 percent. “These findings are surprising,” said WHAM founder and CEO Carolee Lee. “Women are getting sick and dying from a disease that disproportionately affects them, yet the research doesn’t recognize that fact. And the pain of the disease isn’t just a medical problem by any means. These new data couldn’t be clearer. for the financial pain We all pay when women leave the workforce early to manage their health or serve as caregivers for loved ones Women’s health is an economic issue that affects everyone and we can’t afford to ignore it .” “This research shows that very small investments in women’s health can yield big returns, in part because women’s health research is still so underfunded,” said Lori Frank, senior author of the study. “Our modeling suggests that even small investments in women’s lung cancer research could lead to significant benefits in health outcomes, health-related quality of life, and workforce productivity. The research leads to significant benefits.” “This report brings important new data to the case we’ve been making for years: that lung cancer affects women differently—both physically and socially—and these disparities must be addressed,” said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President and CEO of GO2 for Lung. Cancer and exhibition supporter. “WHAM’s findings not only highlight the need for legislation that expands resources to better understand the science of lung cancer in women, but also show how investment in research could lead to economic benefits for women living with the disease”. The WHAM Report can be a tool to help decision makers plan future research strategies, help funders decide how to allocate their portfolios, and address the business case for payers and business leaders to invest in the health of of women. The report’s authors recommend expanding the research agenda to address multiple aspects of sex and gender in lung cancer using the limited evidence base, including:

The unknown interactions of sex and gender with lung cancer etiology, risk factors, and disease progression to inform treatment and prevention research. Unstudied interactions of gender and race with lung cancer risk, health care, and disease progression. In particular, examining barriers to access and use of diagnostic technology, including personalized medicine. Gender and sex differences in lifestyle influence the disease. Differences in disease course and outcomes by gender and sex, based on different patterns of use of formal and informal care.

“Women make up more than half of the population and workforce, control 60 percent of personal wealth, and are responsible for 85 percent of consumer spending and 80 percent of health care decisions,” Lee said. “Yet even as diseases affect them disproportionately and differently, pulling many out of the workforce too soon, investment in women’s health research is lagging behind. This is such an easy win for our country.” More information: Report: thewhamreport.org/report/lung/ Provided by Burness Reference: Investment of just $40 million in lung cancer research linked to women has dramatic impact on US economy (2022, November 1) retrieved November 1, 2022 from
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