Well That Explains It

Now I understand both the $100 billion cancer drug price tag and the fact that every time I turn around I'm hearing about someone else being diagnosed with cancer. 

Numbers from the American Cancer Society website: Men have a 1 in 2 chance of developing cancer in their lifetimes, and a 1 in 4 chance of dying from it; women have a 1 in 3 chance of developing cancer, and a 1 in 5 chance in dying from it. 

Of course, I couldn't find the breakdown by age range. I suppose it's possible that all of this is really a function of age and longevity -- i.e., if they live long enough, eventually everyone gets cancer. 

But still. 1 in 2 or 3? Pretty crappy odds when you think about it.