Cancer Death Rates Higher In Rural America Than In Urban Areas Of The US, CDC Report Indicates.

reports in “To Your Health” that “despite decreases in cancer death rates” across the US, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that “they are higher in rural America than in urban areas of the” US. Differences in the incidence of cancer, or the rates of new cases, could arise because of risk factors such as smoking, obesity and a lack of physical activity, the report said. But differences in the death rates could result from disparities in access to health care and timely diagnosis and treatment, researchers concluded. A higher percentage of rural Americans are uninsured, limiting their access to preventive services covered by insurance, according to federal health data. According to Reuters (7/6, Grover), the report indicated “cancer accounted for 180 deaths per 100,000 persons in rural areas annually compared with 158 deaths in urban areas.” But, the report found that “rural areas...reported fewer new cancer cases at 442 per 100,000 persons compared with 457 cases in urban areas.” Meanwhile, “for cancers...often associated with tobacco use such as lung or those that can be diagnosed through early screenings, including colorectal and cervical, the rate of incidence is higher in rural areas.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/07/06/deaths-from-cancer-higher-in-rural-america-cdc-finds/?utm_term=.406948c373ea