This policy brief looks at the economic and societal case for investing in cancer policies. Cancer causes one in four premature deaths in OECD countries. It damages people’s quality of life, their ability to work, and their incomes. Cancer increases health expenditure and harms the economy through reduced labour force participation and productivity. The economic and social costs of cancer will grow as populations age and cancer treatment costs increase. Based on microsimulation modelling for 51 countries (including OECD, European Union and G20 countries), this policy brief provides recommendations on how countries can tackle the impact of cancer on health, the economy and society.
