University of Iowa researchers say demographics and risk factors like smoking, binge drinking and obesity are linked to 76 percent of the higher rates for five types of cancers that are common in Iowa. University of Iowa Public Health professor Mary Charlton is one of the lead researchers. She says they found a higher number of unexplained cases in some types of cancer because their causes aren’t entirely known.
Researchers looked at factors like age, race, tobacco and alcohol use and county radon levels. State Medical Director Robert Kruse says the findings show there are a lot of ways Iowans can reduce their risk for cancer by making lifestyle changes, getting regular screenings and installing radon mitigation systems.
The state provided funding for university’s research into Iowa’s high cancer rates. Researchers say the second year of the project, which is being funded by federal dollars, will look into potential genetic and environmental risk factors for prostate, breast, lung, colorectal and melanoma cancers which make up over half of the cancers diagnosed in Iowa.
