Statewide Iowa (RI) — University of Iowa researchers have released phase one of their search to identify some of the reasons Iowa has the second highest rate of newly diagnosed cancers in the United States.
The group examined demographic factors and behaviors, like smoking and binge drinking, and found Iowa has similar demographic factors to Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas and Nebraska.
Dr. Mary Charlton, director of the Iowa Cancer Registry, says Iowa’s cancer rate, however, is slightly higher than the region’s.
Breast cancer, skin cancer and prostate cancer have been increasing more steeply in Iowa since 2013.
Dr. Jacob Oleson, a professor of biostatistics in the University of Iowa College of Public Health, says they’re still digging through the data, but 87 of Iowa’s 99 counties have cancer rates that are significantly higher than the national trend.
Governor Reynolds hosted a news conference today releasing the initial research findings. She says cancer is a complex disease and the research is showing there’s not one single cause driving Iowa’s cancer rate.
The governor’s husband, who has never been a smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer in September of 2023. A year later the governor announced Kevin Reynolds’ cancer was not curable, but is in remission.
KIWA Staff Photo
