Cancer prevention project brings urgency to Henry County

MT. PLEASANT — Health officials, researchers, and local leaders gathered Tuesday, July 1 at the Henry County Emergency Management building to confront Iowa’s growing cancer crisis and push for stronger local prevention efforts.

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The meeting marked the latest stop in the 99 Counties Project, a statewide initiative led by the Iowa Cancer Registry and University of Iowa researchers. The team delivers county-specific cancer data and encourages action on prevention, early detection, and access to care.

“This initiative provides data to all 99 counties and gives insight into which cancers affect our communities,” said Katie Reuter, Henry County Public Health Director. “In Henry County, we’re seeing high rates of breast, prostate, lung, uterine, and colorectal cancer.”

Each year, health officials diagnose approximately 129 new cancer cases in Henry County and report about 45 cancer-related deaths, according to data shared during the presentation.

Iowa ranks second in the nation for overall cancer incidence. Reuter addressed how Henry County fits into that troubling picture.

“As far as Henry County, we're kind of — how they explained it is we're average, which is not good, because you're still average at being higher than the rest of the nation in incidence of cancer,” Reuter said.

She also pointed to elevated cancer rates in neighboring areas.

“Henry County is doing OK as far as incidence — we’re average for being high,” she said. “But Lee and Des Moines counties are extremely high. Those are our neighbors. And cancer doesn’t respect county boundaries, so we have to look at what’s going on around us too.”

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Dr. Mary Charlton and Dr. Whitney Zahnd of the University of Iowa led the presentation, emphasizing risk factors such as tobacco use, poor diet, physical inactivity, and exposure to radon — a naturally occurring gas that contributes significantly to lung cancer cases in Iowa.

Charlton and Zahnd urged residents to take advantage of free or low-cost screening programs like Care for Yourself (breast and cervical cancer), Iowa Get Screened (colorectal cancer), and low-dose CT scans for lung cancer.

However, those resources face potential funding cuts.

“Federal funding cuts threaten the entire project,” Reuter said. “Funding for the Iowa Cancer Consortium is also in jeopardy, and they’ve done a lot of important work. If we lose these programs, our communities will feel the impact.”

Reuter underscored the urgency of maintaining support.

“Iowa has the second-highest cancer incidence in the country, and our rates are rising,” she said. “We’re one of only two states seeing increases. That makes it a big deal to protect funding for cancer research and prevention.”

Part of the 99 Counties Project includes educating residents about resources already available in their own communities.

In Henry County, oncology services are offered through the Henry County Health Center — Hematology & Oncology, which can be reached at 319-385-6185.

The Iowa Private Well Program provides assistance with private well testing and education. Residents can contact Mike Dawson, Environmental Health Specialist, at 319-385-1223 Ext. 1, or Bruce Hudson at Ext. 4 with the Regional Utility Service System (RUSS).

Immunization clinics, including HPV vaccines, are held at 106 North Jackson Street, Suite 103 in Mt. Pleasant. Clinic hours include Tuesday mornings from 9 to 11, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m., and the first and third Thursdays from 1 to 6 p.m. No appointment is necessary, and language interpretation services are available.

The 99 Counties Project will continue visiting communities across Iowa in the coming months. Henry County Public Health encourages residents to speak with health care providers about cancer screenings and to test homes for radon.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com