Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Examining Rural Cancer Prevention and Control Efforts from the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services

Date:
Duration: approximately minutes

Featured Speakers

Paul Moore Paul Moore, D.Ph., Executive Secretary, National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services; Senior Health Policy Advisor, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
John Rochat John Rochat, MD, Oncologist, Anderson Valley Health Center, Boonville, CA
Peggy Wheeler Peggy Wheeler, MPH, Vice President, Rural Health Care and Governance, California Hospital Association

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Age-adjusted cancer death rates for both males and females have been on a downward trend but, despite this continued decline in national cancer mortality, research demonstrates a distinct disparity in cancer mortality between rural and urban populations. Compared to urban areas, rural counties had lower than average annual age-adjusted cancer incidence rates for all cancer sites combined, but higher mortality rates. Researchers have noted higher incidence and mortality rates among rural regions for certain preventable cancers, specifically, lung, laryngeal, colorectal, and cervical cancer.

People living in rural communities face greater challenges with regard to accessing critical services to either prevent cancer or receive comprehensive treatment. This webinar will present information on the importance of focusing on comprehensive, innovative, and sustainable solutions to close the rural-urban mortality gap and to continue reducing the disease burden nationally.