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How Florida is Making Big Advances in Terminal Cancer Treatment

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It’s a known fact that cancer is a big problem in Florida. In 2014, 43,000 Floridians died of all types of cancer. This is an extremely high number and it demonstrates that we still have a long way to go when it comes to treating terminal cancer.

But new advances are being made when it comes to cancer treatments in the Florida area. Let’s take a look at how Florida is tackling terminal cancer.

Why Florida has a Big Cancer Problem

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There’s a major geographical spread when it comes to cancer in Florida. For example, North Florida has higher cancer rates than the rest of the country. There are many reasons for this, including a lack of resources in this part of the state.

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Another reason is the toxic superfund sites situated throughout the state.

But the state government is attempting to increase accessibility of healthcare and to tackle the root causes of higher cancer rates in this part of the country.

What Florida is Doing About its Cancer Problem

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The state is acting to make sure that the healthcare system has the tools it needs to address the unique cancer needs of its population.

Paul Kraus, who’s known as the world’s longest survivor of mesothelioma, one of the most deadly cancers around, says that Florida needs to invest in the latest treatments, which it is doing.

One such example of this is the HIPEC chemotherapy treatment. It’s a type of chemotherapy that causes less damage to the body through limiting exposure to only the affected areas. Furthermore, it doesn’t come with the side effects of other forms of chemotherapy.

Understanding the New Needs of the State

Cancer doesn’t come immediately. It takes time for it to manifest itself. Florida is a state that used to have a lot of heavy industry, which is why cancers like mesothelioma are a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.

The average latency period of mesothelioma is up to 35 years, so a generation of workers is potentially awaiting a diagnosis of this fatal disease.

But Florida is starting to raise awareness through its campaigns to undergo cancer screening. It’s a known fact that early cancer screening increases the likelihood of surviving any form of cancer, so there’s a big emphasis on early detection.

Are You More Likely to Die of Cancer in Florida?

There are parts of Florida that have higher rates of cancer than others, but Florida is not particularly out of the ordinary when compared with the rest of the country.

Either way, cancer rates are declining, as are mortality rates. Paul says that the state government of Florida has to be prepared for a change in the types of cancers.

For example, lung cancer may be on the decline because smoking rates are dropping nationwide. But other forms of cancer could easily replace it.

Last Word – Should You Be Worried if You Live in Florida?

Absolutely not!

Florida is a state that is making a lot of progress when it comes to reducing cancer rates and expanding the availability of new treatments.


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