Iowa has 2nd highest cancer rate in US, Black Iowans face alarming disparities in cancer cases, deaths

The Iowa Cancer Summit gathered local and national experts to discuss Iowa’s rising cancer rates, which are among the worst in the nation.

According to the Iowa Cancer Registry’s 2024 report, Iowa continues to have the 2nd highest and fastest-growing rate of new cancers in the U.S.

Dr. Mary Charlton, president of the Iowa Cancer Consortium, presented the dire findings during the Oct. 15 summit in Ankeny.

The cancer incidence rates for Black Iowans are near the top — or top the nation — in several categories, Charlton shared.

Cancer & Black Iowans

Here’s how Black Iowans rank nationally:

• 1st for kidney and Leukemia
• 2nd for colorectal and lung cancer (Both 1st for Black women, and 1st for oropharyngeal cancer for Black men).
• 3rd for prostate, bladder and liver
• 5th for pancreas (3rd for Black men)
• 6th for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• 8th for cervical
• 10th for breast

“That is almost every major cancer that we have one of the highest rankings in our Black population in Iowa,” she said.

The death rates are also disproportionate, Charlton said.

“While we have the 24th highest mortality rate in the country for our entire population, we have the second highest Black cancer mortality rate in the country,” she said.

She added: “So we have sub-populations here in Iowa who we’re not helping prevent cancer. We’re not helping detect their cancer early. They’re not getting the same and equivalent treatment as the rest of our population and not having as good outcomes.”

Iowa has the third biggest gap in mortality rates between Black people and white people in the country, and maps show apparent disparities, she said.

“Waterloo, for example, looking at their cancer risk, continues to be one of the most segregated cities in America,” she said. “The difference between the east side of Waterloo, the west side of Waterloo and Cedar Falls is stark. And they’re all in the same geographic area. It tells us that we need to do better.”

She said they studied Waterloo, looking at the river, redlining and the historical difference of how people were divided.

“And you can see on one side of the river they had the highest cancer incidence rates in the state, and on the other side, they have among the lowest,” she said.

A mental health equity panel discussed health disparities and lack of access to mental health services and how that affects Black, Brown and LGBTQ communities during cancer diagnosis and treatment. Anne Carter, of Linn County Public Health, advised attendees to encourage their patients to ask for help and be sensitive to cultural differences.

This story first appeared in the October edition of the Black Iowa Newspaper.