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Years of potential life lost: Evaluating premature cancer death in men

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Abstract

Cancer is one of the most serious health concerns facing the nation. Health care policy makers who determine cancer research and treatment priorities must analyze death rates as an indicator of public health priorities. Two additional indexes that account for premature death include years of potential life lost (YPLL) and potential years of life lost per death (YPLL/D). Data for ten leading causes of cancer death in men from 1974–1983 were analyzed and the YPLL and YPLL/D corresponding to these cancers was calculated. Each cancer was then ranked from most to least significant according to each index. The analyses show that using YPLL and YPLL/D to evaluate cancer death in men results in rankings that differ from those obtained when using death rates alone. The premature death indexes, when used in combination with traditional mortality indexes, would enhance the data base used by funding agencies who select and evaluate cancer treatment and prevention programs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Meyer Children's Rehabilitation Institute, 444 South 44th Street, 68131, Omaha, NE

    Patrick C. Friman PhD

Authors
  1. Patrick C. Friman PhD
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  2. Jack W. Finney PhD
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  3. J. Michael Leibowitz PhD
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Additional information

Patrick Friman, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical School and a staff psychologist at the Meyer Children's Rehabilitation Institute. Jack Finney, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Michael Leibowitz, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical School and Deputy Director for Programs at the Meyer Children's Rehabilitation Institute. The preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by Project 405, Maternal and Child Health Services, Department of Health and Human Services and the National Cancer Institute (CA 47565). The authors gratefully acknowledge Bruce A. Buehler, M.D., Ramon M. Fusaro, M.D., Pam M. Wendell, M.D., George Williams, M.A., and William C. Duckworth, M.D. for providing invaluable comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript.

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Friman, P.C., Finney, J.W. & Leibowitz, J.M. Years of potential life lost: Evaluating premature cancer death in men. J Community Health 14, 101–106 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321540

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321540

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