“My dog detected my cancer before the doctor did it.”

Breanna Bortner’s dog, Mochi, began to behave unusually, clinging to her breasts before she was diagnosed with stage 2B triple-negative breast cancer. This behavior highlighted an intuitive bond during her health journey.

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that individuals who contribute more in taxes might have a lower likelihood of dying from cancer. The researchers aimed to investigate how tax revenues at the state level influence cancer screening and mortality in the U.S.

The study, conducted by researchers from Ohio State University, Emory University in Georgia, and the University of Verona in Italy, analyzed tax data from 1,150 state years between 1997 and 2019. They also looked at population-level statistics for cancer screenings and cancer-related deaths sourced from the CDC database.

States with higher tax revenues correlated with increased cancer screening rates and reduced mortality rates. Specifically, for each $1,000 rise in per capita tax revenue, colorectal cancer screening rates increased by 1.61%, breast cancer screening by 2.17%, and cervical cancer screening by 0.72%.

Interestingly, the study found that among cancer patients, every $1,000 increase in tax revenue per capita led to a 4% decrease in mortality among white patients; however, similar improvements were not observed among racial and ethnic minority groups.

“State-level tax policies are an often-overlooked factor in health outcomes, particularly regarding cancer screening and mortality,” the researchers stated.

They emphasized that higher tax revenues could help secure a healthier population, bridging gaps in healthcare, especially through more progressive tax policies.

Previous studies have also highlighted tax policies as significant factors affecting public health outcomes, including infant mortality and general health quality.

Dr. Marc Siegel, Senior Medical Analyst and Professor at NYU Langone Health, commented on the study, mentioning that increased taxation might lead to better access to resources for relaxation and health improvement.

“Faster diagnosis, improved care, and having more financial means for enhanced treatment options can result in lower cancer death rates,” he added.

Despite these findings, the researchers acknowledged limitations. While there seems to be a connection, causation between high tax rates and decreased mortality has not been proven. Additionally, the validity of cancer screening data was based on patient surveys, which may include bias or measurement errors.