Addressing Disparities: Rural Americans More Likely to Have Late-Stage Cancer

In rural America, a significant health disparity poses a startling reality for its residents. Studies reveal that rural Americans face a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer than their urban and suburban counterparts.

Moreover, the rates of timely cancer screenings and access to quality healthcare in these regions fall far below acceptable levels, leaving many without the crucial advantage of early detection and intervention.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that although rural counties had lower cancer incidence rates, the death rates for cancer were higher than urban and metropolitan counties, and the difference is increasing.

As the gap widens, so does the impact on survival rates and overall well-being. There are several factors contributing to this unsettling disparity, including challenges facing rural communities in obtaining proper healthcare.

Lack of Healthcare Access in Rural Areas

Rural communities often lack access to quality healthcare, including preventative screenings and treatments. Rural areas often suffer from a shortage of physicians, leaving many people unable to receive routine checkups that can detect and treat cancer in its early stages.

According to National Cancer Institute, there are fewer primary and specialty care physicians than urban areas. Approximately 17% to 20% of the U.S. population resides in rural areas, while only 3% of medical oncologists practice in rural communities, creating a significant gap in healthcare access.

Additionally, many rural communities lack the resources, such as funds and transportation, to obtain cancer treatments or access specialized care.

Lack of Early Detection

Early cancer detection is the best way to increase the chances of successful treatment and survival.

According to the American Cancer Society, the survival rates for early-stage colon, breast, and cervical cancers are 91%, 99%, and 92%, respectively. 

The chances of detecting cancer early are greatly reduced without access to regular health care screenings and prevention services such as mammograms, Pap smears, colonoscopies, PSA tests, and skin checks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, death rates in rural areas were 15% higher for cancer than in urban areas.

Early detection can also increase the effectiveness of treatments, which may lead to improved prognoses and better quality of life after a diagnosis.

Those who live in rural areas have lower rates of cancer screening and experience lower-quality cancer care. According to the National Cancer Institute, lower income levels, lack of insurance, less awareness of cancer risks and benefits of screening, and distance to a screening facility are additional factors.

Preventative Education

Healthcare education is critical to help prevent cancer. It is important to understand cancer risk factors and ways to reduce personal risk.

Those living in rural areas often lack the education needed and are less likely to practice healthy behaviors that can prevent cancer development.

For example, those in low-income communities may not have access to fresh, nutritious foods and may instead resort to cheaper and unhealthier options with lower nutritional value. This increases their risk of developing certain types of cancer due to an unbalanced diet or obesity.

Areas without access to healthcare may also lack the education and awareness of lifestyle choices that may increase their risk of developing cancer, such as regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking or drug use, and other factors.