Red shows the highest number of deaths per 100,000 persons.
River Basin States have the Highest Rates of Cancer.
Cancer death disparities linked to poverty, lifestyle factors nationwide.
Food insecurity, smoking, physical inactivity, and quality of health care are the top factors linked to cancer death disparity rates in a new Yale study. Yale researchers have identified factors that may contribute to widening cancer death disparities among counties across the United States. These factors, which include both socioeconomic and behavioral traits, may provide public health experts with specific targets for potentially reducing cancer disparities, the researchers said.
The study was published in JAMA Network Open.
While cancer death rates have decreased overall in the United States in recent decades, substantial disparities among counties still exist and are growing. To examine the factors that may drive these disparities, a team of Yale-led researchers analyzed publicly available data documenting cancer mortality rates by county. They compared the rates in low-, medium-, and high-income counties. Using a novel method known as mediation analysis, the research team identified factors that were associated with the disparities, they said.
Where in the U.S. Are You Most (And Least) Likely to Get Cancer?
The research team confirmed that there are significant county-level disparities in cancer deaths, ranging from 186 deaths per 100,000 persons in high-income counties to 230 deaths per 100,000 persons in low-income counties.
Their mediation analysis found that most of the disparities could be explained by a small number of key factors. “The most important of these factors appear to be food insecurity, smoking, physical inactivity, and the quality of health care that is provided in the counties,” said first author Jeremy O’Connor, M.D., who conducted the research while he was a National Clinician Scholar at Yale School of Medicine.
Their findings show that cancer death disparities can be attributed to a mix of factors that involve both income and behavior. “The paper suggests all of these factors are interplaying to lead to disparities,” O’Connor noted. “It’s not just health behaviors or quality of care; it’s all of the factors together.”
As part of their methodology, the researchers also created maps to illustrate the cancer death disparity rates. This approach will allow public health officials in different parts of the country to identify specific factors that affect their counties, and respond accordingly. “Instead of every county addressing all eight factors, they can target their public health programs to the factors that are most important to their community,” said O’Connor.
The study also underscores the fact that while overall cancer death rates are affected by advances in cancer treatment, much of the disparities in death rates might be attributable to issues outside of treatment, such as smoking and obesity, the researchers said.
Other study authors are Tannaz Sedghi, Meera Dhodapkar, Michael J. Kane,
and Cary P. Gross. This work is made possible by a grant from the National Center for Advancing Translational Science, a component of the National Institutes of Health. Gross has received support for research from 21st Century Oncology, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Inc., and Pfizer.
Related:
Low- or no-calorie soft drinks linked to improved outcomes in colon cancer.
What makes us well? Diversity, health care, and cycling to work matter.
Disparities found in lung cancer care, survival in U.S. versus England
Facing the Fear of Cancer by Joel Schorn – Bing video
The cancer rate gap by country has widened in recent years with the percentage
of people diagnosed in some countries being between four and five times that of
some other countries.
According to Dana Farber’s Blog the countries with
the ten highest cancer rates are currently as follows.
Denmark
France
Austria
Belgium
Norway
United States
Ireland
South Korea
Netherlands
New Caledonia
While the ten countries with the lowest cancer rates are
Niger
Gambia
Cape Verde
Bhutan
Yemen
Oman
Namibia
Guinea Bissau
Nepal
Mauritania
When looking at the two lists there are a few factors that stick out instantly.
The highest rates are in the developed western world while the lowest rates are predominately in more agrarian societies throughout Africa and the Middle East.
The higher rates exist in countries with much larger healthcare sectors.
This could mean one reason for the disparagement would be the abilities of industrialized nations to detect the existence of cancer in the first place. People in less developed nations are less likely to seek conventional medical attention when an issue arises. This is a major component of the existing gap. Let’s look at some other possible reasons why cancer rates may be lower in these less developed nations.
Clean Food: The agrarian economies are trading food that is a cut above any run
of the mill organic food in the west. Their soil is mostly free of synthetic chemicals and pesticides (as are their neighbors/anyone else feeding into the local soil and water supply).
Clean Water: Most of these countries drink local water that has been used dating
back to their ancestors. No contaminants like hydro-flora-solisic acid are added to their water supplies like they are in the west. Typical American town water supplies can have hundreds of parts per million of chemicals added to it at the town supply itself. While it’s true some of these nations have water supply issues from traditional influences, animal waste/high water levels, it’s the lack of chemicals, pesticides and other synthetic microscopic compounds that is absent in many of these areas.
Lack of Tech Devices; Over the past decade many high profile, public figures
have contracted brain cancer. Within the U.S. Senate alone three very tenured members, Ted Kennedy, Arlen Specter and John McCain all died from this form of cancer. They were all of a certain age where they may be more vulnerable from radiation put out by cell phones (75+). These electronic devices seem to be glued to the ears of most politicians. Less developed nations are also spared from the constant frequencies sent out by wifi as well as radio signals. The air is less polluted, both by what can be seen or unseen.
Medical presence in the first world is a major issue for catching cancer early on and coming up with a treatment plan. There are also possible issues in the “Developed World” that may be contributing factors as well. Beyond the food and water supply, stress levels and workloads are also much higher in the first world.
A farmer who feeds his or her family with what they grow has far less human interaction; both in person and online. A simpler life might be easier on the cells. Quality nutrition grown next to one’s house is a much better way to eat; a relationship with Mother Earth that has worked well for thousands of years.
Chronic stress has different symptoms than stress. Here’s how to spot the difference.
Scientists Predict How Much Time Mammals Have On Earth Before We Go Extinct.
Nine Absurdly Common Life Choices That Can Destroy Your Life (msn.com)
The Fittest States in the U.S., Ranked from Worst to First (farandwide.com)
The #1 Habit to Break for a Longer Life, according to a Dietitian (msn.com)
The 6 Real Reasons You’re A Highly Sensitive Person (msn.com)