Texas Cancer Plan

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Texas leads the country in its commitment to preventing cancer, addressing disparities, and developing innovative technologies to detect, treat, and cure cancer. Researchers in Texas are exploring new methods to slow or minimize cancer growth in people diagnosed with or who are at high risk for developing cancer. Through initiatives like CPRIT, Texas has invested heavily in healthcare infrastructure, research institutions, and bioscience manufacturing to address the burden of cancer in Texas.

Despite this work, cancer continues to place a huge economic burden on individuals and the state. According to a recent economic assessment, direct medical costs and morbidity and mortality losses in the state totaled $59.5 billion in 2024, compared to about $38.7 billion in 2017, an increase of 54%. The 2024 report finds that cancer costs the Texas economy:

• $317.5 billion in reduced annual spending (up from $204.5 reported in 2018),
• $156.5 billion in output losses annually (up from $100.8 reported in 2018), and
• 1,287,180 lost jobs from cancer treatment, morbidity and mortality and the associated spillover effects (up from 1,045,800 reported in 2018).¹

With a population of more than 30 million people and over 40% identifying as Hispanic or Latino, Texas is one of the largest and most diverse states.² Where you were born, live, work, and play should not influence a person’s cancer care. However, there are disparities in cancer incidence and mortality rates that affect various demographic groups within Texas. Non-medical drivers of health, including access to care, socioeconomic status, education, lifestyle, and environmental factors, significantly influence cancer care outcomes in Texas.

Texas is also largely rural, with three-quarters of all counties in the state classified as rural. One in five Texans live in a rural area.^{3, 4} Residents in rural communities, especially racial and ethnic historically minoritized populations, are more likely to experience poverty than those in urban areas, which can limit access to healthcare and other essential services. Persistent poverty within certain Texas communities also affects access to quality care, early detection, and treatment options for cancer patients.

Since the release of the 2018 Texas Cancer Plan,⁵ Texas has implemented programs across the state placing innovative, evidence-based approaches into practice that continue to demonstrate effectiveness. Addressing systems change, developing partnerships and collaborations, training community and healthcare providers, and creating new jobs are key initiatives that have proven successful in the fight against cancer.

There is still more to do. The most cost-effective, long-term strategy for the control of cancer is to prevent cancer before it forms in the body. Texans could avoid almost half of adult cancer deaths through certain lifestyle modifications. Lifestyle choices and habit changes will alter the risk for developing cancer. Widespread availability of evidence-based screenings for cancer also saves lives and reduces the physical and financial burden of cancer on individuals, families, communities, and the state. Strategies and tools needed to address current gaps in education outreach, cancer screening, and follow-up care after an abnormal screening test result are available, but stakeholders must work together to reach all populations.

One of the state’s priorities is to implement novel prevention services by harnessing emerging technologies that expedite the development of early cancer detection, risk assessment, and interception. An increase in cancer research infrastructure across Texas by investing in researcher recruitment and training grants, along with funding the continuum of cancer research (population, basic, translational, and clinical trials research), could grow new discoveries into practical treatments and therapies.

The state remains committed to those who are working to reduce their cancer risk, those who are diagnosed with cancer, and their dedicated caregivers. Stakeholders in public health and policy makers must have a sense of urgency in addressing the issues outlined in the 2024 Texas Cancer Plan. Texas can effectively tackle cancer challenges through concentrated efforts with an emphasis on collaboration among government agencies, healthcare providers, research institutions, community organizations, policy makers, and individuals.