The president of Simone Development Companies predicts that health networks will design and build new cancer treatment centers in response to recent U.S. Census figures that reveal an increasing elderly population.
The U.S. Census projects that by 2034 there will be more senior citizens than children in the United States. Risk factors for cancer include advanced age and obesity. From 1999 through 2018, the U.S. obesity rate rose from 30.5 to 42.4 percent of the population.
“Last year an estimated 1.8 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in the United States. By 2030, the number of cancer survivors is projected to rise to 22.2 million,” said Joseph Simone, president of Simone Development Companies.
In response to these demographic trends, new cancer centers are in development or planned nationwide. Recent announcements include Our Lady of the Lake’s $100 million project in Baton Rouge, La.; Franciscan Health’s $43.2 million project in Lafayette, Ind.; and City of Hope’s $1 billion project in Irvine, Calif.
“A common denominator in many of these communities is an effort to bring advanced cancer treatment to communities where cancer patients must travel long distances to receive such care,” Simone said. Read more.