It's not much of a surprise that when it comes to health reporting, cancer remains at the top of the agenda.
When 2008 ends, more than 1.4 million people in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with cancer. The disease accounts for one of every four deaths. And in 2007, the nation spent about $89 billion in direct medical costs on the disease.
But here is the question: Do you ever look at reporting by the press on cancer treatments, cancer research or advances in dealing with the disease and wonder... why do these reporters miss the real story?
I work for Minnesota Public Radio news and for national programs like Marketplace, Weekend America and Speaking of Faith. We reach out to thousands of people for their knowledge, expertise and insights on subjects. It's called our Public Insight Network.
We will deploy our Network to set an agenda for covering cancer in the coming year.
How about you? Can you give public broadcasting some direction on this topic?
You can help. We ask for your insights, experiences and knowledge when it comes to this important health topic.
Please click here to share them.
Coping with cancer is so much more than the statistics. That's why we want to hear from people who are dealing with it every day.
If you treat cancer, what are the advances and trends you see? How is your field changing? If you or a loved one is a patient or a survivor, what should people know who have never had cancer touch their lives? What are the surprises, breakthroughs or challenges you have faced?
Give the press a hand... and we promise to make use of your insights. And, if you know of someone whose life is touched by this issue, please pass this note along to them.
I will keep you updated on what we hear and, maybe, create a loop that will enrich our news coverage... and, perhaps, even provide that information right here in Gather.
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Comments: 9
I do have complex health, but get up everyday optimistic that I can and will still make it, and make something positive in my life happen. This disease caused me to lose my home, all of my belongings, and many will no longer have anything to do with, too much trouble, too much wrong. It is an insidius disease and I am on my way now to see the site. Thanks so much, because what can happen to someone with even the possibility of having cancer, from insurance right down to your personal life, is devastating. While there are many groups around, their are many cancers that are not discussed enough, and the real causes of it go ignored, or even the possibility that cancer in someone was accelerated by a specific cause. Take lung cancer, you only hear about it connected with smoking. This annoys me. Does this mean it should be ignored? Where are the stats for the $$$ Amounts donated for research for this type? Or brain cell tumors that come from nowhere? I am on my way. Perhaps someone who is feeling alone, and very sad can benefit from the ways I have discovered to keep going in these past months. God Bless, Ellen B