MSK has achieved the top position among cancer hospitals in this year’s U.S. News & World Report ranking of U.S. hospitals, edging out MD Anderson Cancer Center which had the lead for the past 7 years. More patients will be inclined to seek care at the #1 hospital and the institution will also attract increased funding. One of the factors which contributed to MSK’s receiving the top ranking was its achievement of significantly higher marks in safety as compared to MD Anderson.

Today about 14.5 million Americans who have been diagnosed with cancer are surviving. This figure is expected to grow to 19 million in 2024. Weighing in on this good news, MSK’s Dr. Kevin Oeffinger, Director of the Adult Long Term Follow-Up Program, commented on this “really exciting” news and said the number of cancer survivors is greater than what had been expected just a few years ago.

It has been proposed that lung cancer screening should be offered to current as well as former smokers. However, the cost to Medicare to carry this out would be $2 billion per year, but if the scans are implemented, the chances of dying of lung cancer could be reduced by 20% among those at highest risk. MSK’S Dr. Peter Bach supports the proposal say, “this is potentially an inroad into preventing a lot of cancer deaths.”

The use of sunscreens is widely practiced as a means of protection against the harmful UV rays of the sun. Those who oppose wearing sunscreen all the time while outdoors, claim it can result in vitamin D deficiency. In 2013 MSK conducted research which concluded that the benefits of wearing sunscreen outweigh the risks. A follow-up study done this year confirmed that sunscreen use does not result in vitamin D deficiency.