Health and Fitness : Top cancers in Benton County, 2017-2019 according to the Iowa Cancer Registry

The cancer types with a black box next to the name means that Benton County exceeds the state rate per 100,000 for that type of cancer.

-The Iowa Cancer Registry has released the following report from the University of Iowa. The report tracks the trends in the state and shows that Iowa has the second-highest rate of cancer in the country with only Kentucky reporting higher incidents. Iowa is the only state who recorded an increase in cases between 2015 and 2019.

Iowa reports the 3rd highest mortality rate across all types of cancers in both black and rural populations. It is expected that in 2023 there will be 20,800 new cases diagnosed and 6,200 deaths with a decrease of 100 from the 2022 statistics.

One-half of all cancer types in Iowa are made up of breast, prostate, lung and colorectal cancers while in Benton County, the top four consist of female breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers. Overall, Benton county exceeds the state rate in all forms of cancer except four while exceeding the state's total cancer rates.

It is believed that the increase in Iowa's cancer rate could be associated with higher rates of smoking, drinking, and obesity, while being less active than the rest of the nation.

The chart attached reflects age-adjusted incidence rates by cancer site, during diagnosis years between 2017-2019.

The ICR has generated age-adjusted incidence rates for all cancer sites with at least 10 cancer diagnoses in Benton County between 2017 and 2019. The incidence rate is a measure of the number of new cancers diagnosed in Benton County for diagnosis years 2017-2019. The rate is per 100,000 population. Age adjustment is a statistical process that allows areas (e.g., counties, states) with different age structures to be compared.

The Iowa Cancer Registry (ICR) is a population-based cancer registry that has served the State of Iowa since 1973. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result's (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival in the US. The SEER Program registries routinely collect data on patient demographics, primary tumor site, tumor morphology and stage at diagnosis, first course of treatment, and follow-up for vital status.

The goals of the Iowa Cancer Registry are to:

* Assemble and report cancer incidence, survival, and mortality among Iowans.

* Provide information on changes over time in the extent of disease at diagnosis, therapy, and survival.

* Promote and conduct studies to identify factors relating to cancer etiology, prevention, and control.

* Respond to requests from individuals and organizations in Iowa for cancer data and analyses.

* Provide data and expertise for cancer research activities and educational opportunities.

Since 1982 cancer has been a reportable disease in Iowa and ICR has been delegated the responsibility for collecting data on cancer. The Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) under Public Health (641), Chapter 1, Reportable Diseases, Poisonings and Conditions, and Quarantine and Isolation covers the reporting of cancer.

Data Collection Process

Cancer patient data are collected from: hospitals, pathology laboratories, cancer treatment centers, dermatology clinics, and Iowa death certificates. Data are also collected from targeted physicians who send pathology specimens to out-of-state laboratories.

Hospitals with American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer accredited programs have their own hospital cancer registries. These hospitals in Iowa and in neighboring states submit their cancer data directly to ICR. ICR also has data exchange agreements with other states to be able to capture data on Iowan cancer patients who receive care in other states. The data in this report was generated for dissemination by this public service.

ICR is required to report cancer data bi-annually to the NCI SEER Program and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). Data are also submitted to:

* North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) for Cancer in North America (CINA)

* Internationally for Cancer Incidence in 5 Continents, published by the International Association of Cancer Registries (IARC)

Data submitted include incidence, mortality, and survival among Iowans, which is used to assess the burden of cancer in the population.

Data Confidentiality and Security

Confidentiality of data is extremely important to the operation and maintenance of the Registry. The following are critical elements of the Registry's comprehensive confidentiality policies and procedures that relate to research uses, reporting and release of cancer data.

Confidentiality policies, pledges and procedures are required in all phases of Registry operation to:

* Protect the privacy of the individual cancer patient

* Protect the privacy of the facilities reporting the case

* Protect the privacy of the physician responsible for the care of the cancer patient

* Provide public assurance that the data will not be abused

The Registry has developed and implemented formal policies, procedures and best practices that will safeguard the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of its data. This includes the conduct of personnel with regards to patient data as well as the protection of physical computer systems and buildings and equipment from fire, environmental hazards, or intrusion. Processes have been put in place to guard against unauthorized access to data that are transmitted over the communications network.