University Of Iowa College Of Public Health

Lauren welcomes Mary Charlton to the podcast to discuss the Iowa Cancer Registry's "99 Counties" project. The "Cancer in Iowa 99 Counties" project aims to educate Iowans about the high cancer rates in the state, the types of cancer driving these rates, and risk factors that can be addressed through policy and community action Iowa has the second-highest cancer incidence rate in the U.S., with the most common cancers being breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, and melanoma The project involves creating detailed reports on cancer trends and risk factors for each of Iowa's 99 counties, which are presented to local public health officials and community members to spur action Key findings include geographic patterns in different cancer types (e.g. higher lung cancer in southern Iowa, higher melanoma in northern Iowa), highlighting the complex, multifactorial nature of cancer The goal is to empower Iowans to advocate for evidence-based policies (e.g. tobacco tax increases) and community initiatives to reduce the