Actually, this is an interesting question. Today, Dr. Lilac will briefly talk about it.
1. How many years can we live after eliminating cancer?
To answer this question seriously, we need a lot of statistical data. It is estimated that everyone's scalp is numb before they start calculating.
But we can be lazy and simplify this problem into another calculation problem:
What is the average life expectancy (X) of people who died of non-cancer causes?
If cancer is really eradicated, everyone's life expectancy should be close to X.
Unfortunately, these data are not directly available.
But it is not difficult to roughly estimate this life span, as long as we know three figures: the average life span of the whole people (T), the proportion of people who died of cancer (B) and the average life span of people who died of cancer (C). The calculation method should be: c * b+x * (1-b) = t.
Take Americans who have lived for 20 13 years as an example. T = 78.5 years old, B = 22.5%, and C = 72.
The calculation shows that the average life expectancy of people who died of non-cancer (X)= 80.4 years.
In other words, if there is no cancer in the United States now, the average life expectancy of the whole people will change from 78.5 years to 80.4 years, only increasing by 1.9 years!
As for China, I haven't found some data, so I can't make statistics, but I don't think it will be very big.
Second, since the impact is not great, is it still meaningful to eliminate cancer?
Of course it makes sense.
In fact, if you think about it carefully, there are too many killers of human health. In fact, the proportion of cancer is less than 1/4, so even if cancer is eliminated, the impact will not be great.
Is it worthwhile for that scientist to fight cancer all his life?
Dr. Laila thinks it's worth it. Although the improvement of the average life expectancy of all mankind is limited, from the patient's point of view, the situation is very different.
For example, for American patients, if cancer is conquered, the average life expectancy can be extended to 80.4 years, and they can live 80.4-72 = 8.4 years longer.
In fact, this is not the psychological value to patients and their families. Let them know that there is a cure and give them hope to live. This alone may be priceless.
In addition, overcoming different cancers has different effects on the life span of patients.
For example:
The average age of death of brain tumor patients is 64 years old. If it can be eliminated, the life span of patients can be prolonged by 80.4-64 = 16.4 years.
The average death age of patients with soft tissue tumors is only 59 years old. If it can be eliminated, the life span of patients can be prolonged by 80.4-59 = 2 1.4 years.
These cancer types significantly affect middle-aged and even young patients, and are the top priority of cancer research and new drug development.
Third, besides eliminating cancer, what other methods can prolong life?
Of course there is. Dr Laila wants to reveal the answer by comparing the situation in Japan and the United States.
At present, the average life expectancy of Japanese is 83. 1 year, ranking first in the world; The average life expectancy of Americans is 78.5 years, which is lower than that of Japanese, but their per capita medical expenses are more than three times that of Japan.
Why is this? One of the main reasons is the different lifestyles.
As we all know, the American economy ranks first in the world and is also rich in fat people. Chronic diseases caused by obesity consume a lot of medical resources in the United States and reduce people's life expectancy.
However, from the government to the people, the recognition of healthy lifestyle in Japan is higher than that in the United States, and the medical security system is relatively perfect. No wonder the average life expectancy is longer.
The average life expectancy in China is 76. 1 year, so there is still room for improvement compared with these two countries.
The level of economy and science and technology cannot be changed in a short time, but it is an effective way for ordinary people to live a long life and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Balanced diet, quitting smoking and drinking, active exercise and paying attention to physical examination can just prolong life.
The point is, most of these good habits will help you save money, so why not?
Expert: Dr. Shu Dingxiang, excellent author; Editor: Li Huai.