Coralville, Iowa — A coalition of Iowa healthcare providers, researchers, cancer survivors, and others is releasing its five-year Iowa Cancer Plan.
Rachel Schramm, program manager of the Iowa Cancer Consortium, says behind heart disease, cancer is the number two cause of death in Iowa, so people need to take an active role in their health, and get regular screenings to stay healthy.
It’s projected that 22-thousand Iowans will be diagnosed with cancer this year, while 63-hundred Iowans will die from it. The report says the pandemic continues to disrupt the diagnosis and treatment of cancer by closing healthcare facilities, disrupting employment and health insurance, and the fear of Covid-19 exposure.
It’s estimated more than nine million people missed cancer screenings nationwide because of the pandemic. Colonoscopies had traditionally been done starting at age 50, but in recent years, it was pushed back to age 45, or younger if there’s a family history of colon cancer. Schramm says early detection and screening help to ensure an early diagnosis and much greater odds of survival.
She says one goal of the Iowa Cancer Plan is to address the unique needs of communities including providing education, funding, and support for local cancer control projects. See the full report at www.canceriowa.org.
