Study: Appalachian counties have higher cancer rates than non-Appalachian counties - Entrepreneur Generations

Cancer rates in Appalachian counties occur at a higher rate than in non-Appalachian counties, says a report, "Cancer Incidence in Appalachian 2004-11," published today in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. In addition to smoking, researchers said cancer is higher in Appalachia because of poverty, patient health care utilization and access to care. The Appalachian region consist of 25 million people in 420 counties in 13 states. The total population of the 13 states is about 95 million, according to data from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Of the 1,165,379 Appalachian cancer cases from 2004-11—9 percent of all reported cancer cases in the U.S.—37 percent were in the Northern Appalachia, 36 percent in Central Appalachia and 26 percent in Southern Appalachia. By comparison, non-Appalachian counties in the northern region made up 16 percent of all cancer cases in the U.S., non-Appalachian counties in the central region 7 percent and non-Appalachian counties in the southern region 5 percent. The remaining 72 percent of non-Appalachian cancer causes in the U.S. were in other regions.

Researchers did say the gap between Appalachian cancer cases and non-Appalachian cancer cases was shrinking in all areas except oral cavity and pharynx, larynx, lung and bronchus, and thyroid cancer.

from The Rural Blog http://ift.tt/1lT1w5L Study: Appalachian counties have higher cancer rates than non-Appalachian counties - Entrepreneur Generations

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