Iowa ranks 2nd in the nation for highest rates of cancer
Local doctors are pointing to several risk affecting Iowans . factors that could be
Author : Mary Sugden Published
: 7:04 PM CDT March 13 , 2023 Updated : 7:04 PM CDT March 13 , 2023
IOWA , USA — According to the new Cancer in Iowa Report , Iowa has the second highest cancer rate in the country .
" We weree really surprised to seee that we ranked second in cancer incidents ," said Dr . Mary Charlton, associate professor with University of Iowa ' s College of Public Health . " So we ' ve been really digging into the data racking our brains about what could possibly explain that ."
" I just don ' t think we ' ve recognized that , you know , we are exposed to a significant number of risk factors in this state ," adds John Stoddard Medical Director Dr . Andrew Nish.
While doctors say there ' s no one thing to blame for this high rate , they say theree are a number of factors that can help explain it
. The first : tobacco usage .
" In the United States
, 12.5 % of the population still smokes ," Nish said . " In Iowa , depending on where you look , it ' s about 16 %. So we smoke more than average in the nation ."
Smoking isn ' t the only risk factor , however .