Early cancer detection improves patient outcomes

While there’s a lot to be thankful for in the fight against cancer, the unfortunate truth is that incidence rates are rising in the United States for many common types, particularly among women. One in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and this disease remains the country’s second-leading cause of death.

“We know the data are showing us that cancer prevalence is on the rise,” said Chad Kersting, Business Development Principal at EviCore by Evernorth. “We’re seeing more and more requests related to cancer diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.” 

The hidden costs of cancer: Financial hardship and mental health

The costs of a cancer diagnosis—both psychological and financial—remain a major challenge for patients. Recent surveys show that nearly half (47–50%) of cancer patients and survivors incur medical debt related to their care, with almost half of those owing more than $5,000. This debt often persists for years, even among insured individuals. Cancer patients are also up to five times more likely to file for bankruptcy compared to those without cancer, and many experience significant credit score declines and difficulty accessing loans. Beyond financial strain, these hardships can lead to delayed screenings, skipped treatments, and food insecurity, underscoring the profound impact of financial toxicity on health outcomes.

Cancer patients face a significantly higher risk of depression compared to the general population, with recent studies showing that approximately 25–30% experience depression—nearly double the rate seen in those without cancer. Caregivers are also deeply affected: a 2025 meta-analysis found that about 42% of caregivers for cancer patients experience depression, underscoring the widespread emotional toll of cancer beyond the patient.

Living longer with cancer 

Fortunately, cancer mortality has declined by more than a third over the last 30 years, sparing about 4.5 million lives, thanks in part to advancements in early detection and treatment. The five-year survival rate for all cancers combined increased from 49% in the mid-1970s to 69% from 2014 to 2020.

However, that also means people are living longer with cancer as a chronic condition requiring ongoing therapy — and the costs can present a significant challenge to survivors. The cost of cancer care in the United States was about $183 billion in 2015 and is projected to exceed $245 billion by 2030, according to research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 

The benefits of early cancer detection 

Early detection of cancer yields better health outcomes — from making treatments more effective, with fewer side effects and improved survival rates, to decreasing the financial and psychological costs of the disease. The five-year survival rates for two common cancers in women — breast and cervical — are 99% and 91%, respectively, when detected at an early stage. Also, it can cost up to seven times less to treat early-stage cancers than those identified in later stages. 

While cancer screenings themselves do come at a financial cost to the health care system, they are a proven investment in public health. Screening for breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancers have been shown to reduce cancer-specific mortality and are generally considered cost-effective or even cost-saving.

Yet even with these benefits, many people still don’t get the screening they need. In fact, recent research found that only one in seven diagnosed cancers are found by a recommended screening test. 

Why patients don’t get screened 

Kersting also indicated that there are a few common reasons people don’t get screened for cancer, based on conversations EviCore has with patients: 

• Fear: Fear in this context may take many forms. Some people fear the possibility of a cancer diagnosis and the impact it might have on themselves and their families. Others experience more generalized anxiety around medical tests. There are also concerns about physical effects related to the screening process. For example, a 2025 Harris Poll showed that nearly one‑third of adults report fear and anxiety—including worries about sedation and discomfort—as major reasons for delaying or avoiding colorectal cancer screening.
• Health literacy: Many people are unaware of what screening services are recommended and covered by their health plan or employer. This reflects the broader challenge of health insurance literacy—only one in five U.S. adults feel confident in their ability to understand, evaluate, and effectively use health care and services. For instance, even though most health plans cover preventive screenings, patients often mistakenly believe they will face out-of-pocket costs, which can be a deterrent. Others may be unsure about which providers are in-network or how frequently screenings are covered, adding to their confusion and hesitation.
• Logistical barriers: Balancing work, family and other obligations, many people feel they simply don’t have time to get screened. Practical challenges like travel distance, lack of transportation or inconvenient facility hours can also make it harder to prioritize preventive care. Vulnerable communities—including racial and ethnic minority groups, rural populations, and those living in persistent poverty—face greater logistical and systemic barriers to cancer screening, making them significantly less likely to receive timely early detection. The 2024 AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report highlights that these medically underserved populations experience lower adherence to recommended screening and follow‑up care due to structural inequities, limited access to healthcare services, and socioeconomic obstacles

Increasing cancer screenings through smarter outreach

Closing gaps in cancer screening remains one of the most pressing challenges in preventive care. Despite clear evidence that early detection improves outcomes and lowers costs, many individuals still face barriers — whether logistical, financial, or educational — that prevent them from receiving timely screenings for colon, breast, lung, and cervical cancers.

What’s becoming clear across the industry is that no single strategy is enough. Traditional outreach methods — such as phone calls or mailed reminders — reach some patients, but often fail to engage at scale. At the same time, digital channels alone cannot solve the problem unless they are embedded into patients’ everyday experiences in a meaningful way.

The opportunity lies in rethinking outreach as part of a connected ecosystem of care. When preventive health messages are integrated into the interactions patients already expect — like appointment confirmations or prior authorization notifications — they become harder to ignore and easier to act upon. When those touchpoints are reinforced with personalized education and direct outreach, engagement rates rise significantly.

This layered strategy is already showing measurable promise. Outreach approaches that blend expected interactions with personalized calls have achieved contact rates as high as 80%, while average scheduling rates reach 60% for mammograms and 40% for gynecology appointments¹. Beyond the numbers, what makes this impactful is the clinical alignment it creates: primary care physicians are seamlessly looped in, equipped with timely updates on appointments and results, and able to close gaps more effectively.

These results illustrate how preventive screenings can serve as a gateway to whole-person care — a model that recognizes early detection not as an isolated event, but as the foundation of a connected, patient-centered strategy for health.

To hear more about how these approaches are being applied in practice, listen to EviCore’s Chad Kersting, as he shares insights on advancing cancer screening and reshaping preventive care. 

LISTEN HERE.

Originally published on 9/23/2025 and updated on 2/2/26.