In 2018, more than 1.7 million cases were diagnosed in the United States, and over 600,000 people in this country died of the disease. Worldwide, there were an estimated 18 million cancer cases in 2018. Nearly 40 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives.
For Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James), the problem is particularly challenging because our primary patient “catchment area” — the entire state of Ohio — has a comparatively high cancer incidence rate and some of the nation’s worst mortality rankings for lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancers.
However, we believe our cancer program is making a positive difference as evidenced by our continuous growth in patient caseload, grant-funded research and recruitment of top medical scientists, as well as our consistently high patient satisfaction ratings and a number of planned initiatives that will elevate the program to even greater heights in the next few years.
Some of these achievements are reflected in stories within this issue of Frontiers, which includes information about such initiatives as a Proton Therapy Center and a Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology (PIIO), along with a roundup of the many research grants and awards we have received for patient care, safety and satisfaction.
Our widening reputation for excellence has made the OSUCCC – James a destination site for cancer care; in fiscal 2019, we drew patients from all 88 Ohio counties, 50 U.S. states and 92 countries. Much work lies ahead, but we remain steadfast in pursuing our vision of a cancer-free world.
Raphael Pollock, MD, PhD
Director, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
William Farrar, MD
CEO, James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute