Approximately 50 individuals participated in-person and virtually during the Iowa Cancer Registry’s public meeting to discuss cancer statistics in Carroll County. In partnership with the Iowa Cancer Consortium, Iowa Health Care Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Iowa Rural Health and Carroll County Public Health, participants gathered to hear from the Iowa Cancer Registry’s staff on the top cancer diagnosis to the area, risk factors, preventative measures and more. This project was organized after Iowa was reported to have the second highest rate of new cancers in the U.S, which is 14 percent higher than the national rate. Director for the Iowa Cancer Registry Mary Charlton, PhD says over half of Iowa counties have a higher incidence rate than the U.S, with Carroll County comparing similar to the national average. She says that by giving residents the knowledge and background of specific data in the area, the organizations are hoping to bring the alarming Iowa rankings down.
Charlton says cancer is complicated, and there is no one cause as it is a combination of genetics, lifestyle choices and environmental risks that alter the function of the cells. Research Specialist for the Iowa Cancer Registry Audrey Gronemeyer, MPH says roughly 137 new cancers are diagnosed within Carroll County annually, with 47 cancer-related deaths, both reported similar to the national average. She says two of the top five cancer incidence rates in the county rank higher than reported across the U.S.
Gronemeyer says it is worth noting that 40 percent of cancers diagnosed in the U.S are attributable to modifiable risk factors, meaning a change in lifestyle choices could decrease that risk.
Charlton says that is where state legislation should step up and create policies to reduce those controllable risk factors.
Two proposed policy changes suggested by Charlton was to increase the tobacco tax, which was last done in 2007. The increase slowed the smoking rates from 25 percent in 1996 to around 21 percent when the tax increase was implemented, to 14.9 percent reported in 2022. Iowa however, is project to have the highest smoking rate is the nation by 2035 if data trends continue. For melanoma cases, setting restrictions on indoor tanning sessions was recommended, as just one time usage increases the risk of developing melanoma by 20 percent. Usage in indoor tanning before the age of 35 increases that risk by 75 percent. Iowa is one of the few states that has no restrictions on tanning bed usage for minors. Charlton says the key to treating cancer is to get it diagnosed in the early stages, which she applauds the St. Anthony Cancer Center for doing just that.
For more information on cancer rates in Carroll or across the state, visit the Iowa Cancer Registry’s website, a link to which is included below.
Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project
