Cancer remained the top driver of health care costs, but new innovations brought promise to the oncology treatment landscape.

2024 Year in Review icon

December 11, 2024

Once again, cancer was the top driver of cost in 2024. The rise in late-stage cancers coupled with expensive therapeutics and innovations remains a concern for employers. Equally alarming is the increase in cancer diagnoses in younger populations, as discussed on our podcast and in various forums. Despite the increased incidence of diagnoses, there is a reduction in cancer mortality. In our Thought Leadership Series on cancer, we explored new cancer blood detection tests, mobile mammograms, on-site skin checks and lung cancer detection as helpful tools for employers to leverage for early detection of cancers.

Precision medicine has brought a wave of innovation to the cancer treatment landscape. Naturally, that brings more complex navigation, higher costs and the potential to exacerbate disparities in care. The rise in cancer incidence pushed employers to ponder how they could improve the patient and caregiver experience through cancer treatment. Must-do action steps are detailed in our viewpoint, Taking Action on Cancer.

Supporting employees diagnosed with cancer and employees who act as caregivers for loved ones with cancer was a topic at many of the Business Group’s Institute, Committee and Forum meetings, including our Leave Optimization Forum.

Business Group Insights

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2025 Employer Health Care Strategy Survey Taking Action on Cancer: A Business Group Viewpoint Thought Leadership Series: Cancer By the Numbers: Cancer Facts & Figures 2024

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