A recent study has shown that individuals with health insurance are more likely to discover traces of cancer at early stages when the cancer is easier to treat. For cancers that are easier to detect during the early stages, like breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, and melanoma; those who have adequate health insurance will likely have the proper screenings to discover these cancers during their initial stages. Those without health insurance have a high probability of discovering these cancers when they enter the third and fourth stage; which leads to pain, suffering, and higher healthcare costs.

        The latest study was performed by researchers with the American Cancer Society. The National Cancer Data Base began collecting information on insurance in the late 1990’s. The study used information for 3.7 million patients between 1998 and 2004. The author of the research study believes that adequate health insurance coverage leads to proper screenings for cancer. Those without health insurance will typically discover cancer at a later stage. Discovering cancer during its later stages greatly decreases the survival rates and increases the suffering for the patient. Skeptics argue that the insured patients may receive an increased amount of treatment for tumors that may never cause a problem. The increased treatment, surgery, and drug therapy could lead to more suffering and a shorter life. Whatever the case, it seems evident that individuals with health insurance are more likely to discover a cancer in its earliest and for the most part, treatable stage.