New research, sponsored by the National Grange, sheds light on the rural-urban disparity in cancer mortality, diagnosis and screenings across the U.S.  According to the CDC, cancer deaths in rural areas is 14% higher than those in urban communities.

 

Why the discrepancy?

 

Burton Eller, Legislative Director for the Grange, said there are a variety of factors, including the fact that rural Americans more often have less insurance, and those in small communities, don’t visit the doctor as often as they should.

 

“There might be some environmental reasons too and we're not sure exactly some of the things we use in agriculture in the past, pesticides, herbicides, etc. tend to have an impact on cancer rates.  So it's not anyone thing that we can tell in rural America.”

 

Research also shows 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.

 

What’s the biggest take away from this research?

 

Eller said farm country need access to new cutting-edge technology.

 

“Now you'd have to get some of this new technology, which means you might have to go to a large metropolitan center, or a medical school or Research Center.  Sometimes you have to spend some time there and that's just impossible.  You're not going to travel hundreds of miles and spend several days unless you I mean you would if you knew it but just to get screened.  I think the access to new cutting-edge technology that can be afforded with some help from Medicare would be our goal.” 

 

Click Here to check out the results of the Grange's study.

 

 

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