$100 Billion

One hundred billion dollars.

Dr. Evil's latest ransom demand? Nope.

Russell Wilson's new salary? Nope.

The estimated cost of the 2016 presidential campaign? Nope (well, maybe...)

One hundred billion dollars is how much was spent on cancer drugs in 2014. $100 billion! That's some serious money. And recall that there are only an estimated seven billion people alive on the planet at the moment. How can seven billion people, most of whom are not living in the countries where cutting edge cancer treatment is happening, generate $100 billion dollars is spending on cancer drugs?

Oh, and by 2018 that number is expected to jump to $147 billion.* 

It's no wonder oncologists -- at least the oncologists who aren't making boat loads of money from cancer drugs -- are starting to talk about "financial toxicity" as the latest side effect of cancer. 

All of which just goes to point out that a philosophy degree was a really poor choice. In retrospect, I'd definitely prefer to be on the drug manufacturer's side, rather than the patient's, of that $100 billion equation.


* The numbers come from a medscape article a friend forwarded me which I'd link to but requires a registration.