Cancer Resources
Resources
- Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project Resource Guide
- Iowa Cancer Registry, Cancer in Iowa Report
- Iowa Cancer Registry, Cancer in Iowa Spotlight Series
- Cancer Risk Assessment for patients, American Cancer Society
- Cancer screening for Iowa patients
- Breast and cervical cancer screening for providers
- Free radon test kits for patients
- Information for Health Care Professionals, American Cancer Society
- JAMA study: Lung cancer screening guidelines disproportionately exclude some patients
- Environmental Risk Factors and Iowa's Cancer Crisis 2026 Report
- Top Patient Questions with Resources
- “Could something in my environment be causing cancer?”
- Visit the Environmental Health Sciences Research Center's Environmental Exposures and Health Risks Fact Sheets. https://ehsrc.public-health.uiowa.edu/communityengagement/resources-information/
- “Should I test my home for radon?”
- Iowa Cancer Consortium Radon in Iowa. It includes testing information, mitigation guidance and links to certified mitigation specialists. Order a Radon Testing Kit: https://action.lung.org/site/Ecommerce?store_id=34304&_ga=2.150660278.1445198828.1672761643-138880828.1663097083
- “Is my well water safe?”
- Water Quality | Department of Natural Resources links to Iowa private-well testing data, testing grants, DNR instructions, PFAS information and environmental health fact sheets.
- “What cancer screenings do I need?”
- “Where can I get help quitting tobacco?”
- Quitline Iowa specifically lists Quitline Iowa Health Professional Resources, making it useful both for patients and practices. https://www.quitlineiowa.org/en-us/Health-Professionals/Education
- “Could a clinical trial be an option?”
- Cancer Clinical Trials in Iowa. This is particularly useful for physicians because it brings together trial-search resources and Iowa cancer centers offering clinical trials.
- “Could something in my environment be causing cancer?”
Goals:
The effort is focused on understanding why Iowa continues to have some of the highest cancer incidence rates in the country. The goals include:
- Identifying the environmental, behavioral, and health-system factors contributing to Iowa’s elevated cancer burden.
- Determining which of these factors are the most actionable.
- Using the findings to guide statewide prevention, policy, and investment strategies.
Areas of Focus:
The project team is analyzing several priority domains:
- Environmental exposures – evaluating geographic patterns of cancer alongside environmental exposures.
- Behavioral and lifestyle factors – including smoking, obesity, alcohol use, and other modifiable risks.
- Screening and early detection – assessing gaps in screening access and uptake.
Next Steps:
- Continued deep-dive modeling using linked environmental, behavioral, and healthcare datasets.
- Refinement of geographic “hot spot” analyses.
- Development of a statewide findings report.
- Planning for longer-term prevention efforts focused on modifiable risks and improved screening based on findings
To contribute additional resources or ideas, please reach out to Josie Sylte, IMS Director of Communications and Marketing at jsytle@iowamedical.org.