WASHINGTON — Today, the National Grange released a report that reveals new details about the rural-urban disparity in cancer outcomes. The research, which was sponsored by the National Grange and conducted by the data analytics firm Xcenda sheds new light on the rural-urban disparity in cancer mortality, diagnosis, and screenings in the United States.
On Saturday, February 4, communities around the world will gather in recognition of the 23rd annual World Cancer Day which serves as a reminder of the progress we’ve made and the work still left to do. Thanks to advances in treatment and screening, cancer mortality rates in the United States continue to steadily decline nationwide, yet as demonstrated by this new report, the progress has not been experienced equally.
Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), researchers found cancer deaths in rural areas is 14% higher than in urban areas and that this urban-rural disparity is worsening nationwide. The report also examined disparities in four states: Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas – all of which have significant populations living in both rural and urban areas which made for a more straightforward comparison.
Key findings of the report include:
- Nationwide, the disparity in the rate of cancer deaths between rural and urban counties increased between 2011-2015 and 2016-2020, despite the overall cancer death rate decreasing – a trend that was also reflected in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas.
- The 5-year cancer survival rate for all cancers was 8% lower in rural areas compared to urban areas.
- Rural areas are behind urban areas when it comes to getting preventive screenings.
- Concerning colon and lung cancer specifically, the rates of both cancers found at late-stages were higher in rural areas than urban areas.
The full study results can be viewed here along with an accompanying blog post on the Grange’s website.
“This research demonstrates that we still have a lot of work to do to ensure equitable cancer outcomes for rural America,” said Burton Eller, Executive Director of Grange Advocacy at the Grange. “Addressing this disparity will require greater availability of early cancer detection in rural America, including expanded access to routine screenings as well as access to new cancer detection technologies that are just becoming available.”
The best health outcomes related to cancer are linked to early detection. Routine screenings for breast, colorectal, cervical, prostate, and lung cancer have been successful in catching cancer early and saving lives. In addition, a large bipartisan group in Congress is working to advance access to new screening tools like multi-cancer early detection (MCED), which can detect dozens of deadly cancers through a simple blood test. These technologies can be administered in any care setting and can offer hope for reducing rural cancer disparities, and the proposal has garnered substantial support from members of Congress with large rural constituencies.
“As we recognize World Cancer Day, the National Grange is calling on policymakers to prioritize the health of rural Americans and commit to ensuring access to the tools needed to address cancer disparities.” Eller continued, “This includes advancing policies like the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act which enjoys broad bipartisan support and prevents seniors in rural communities from facing unnecessary access delays to new multi-cancer screening tools once they are approved by the FDA.”
About The National Grange
Founded in 1867, the Grange is a fraternal, nonpartisan organization with roughly 150,000 members across the nation in over 1,500 local chapters. The Grange promotes agriculture, advocacy for rural and small-town concerns, and strengthening communities through grassroots activism and service.
Grange members provide millions of hours of service and dollars in donations annually based on the needs identified in their local communities. From providing dictionaries to third-grade students often unserved or underserved by broadband internet to hosting candidate forums to providing handmade caps for newborns, Grange members find ways to improve the lives of their neighbors both in service and through advocacy efforts.
Learn more about the Grange and our grassroots policy and priority issues, the service of our members across the nation to improve the quality of life in their communities, and where you can find a Grange local to you by visiting www.nationalgrange.
–The National Grange
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