Iowa’s cancer challenge is growing, and Buena Vista County is being invited to help fight back.
The Iowa Cancer Registry and the University of Iowa College of Public Health will be in Storm Lake Wednesday to present new, county‑specific cancer data as part of the statewide Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project. The meeting runs from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Storm Lake Community School Administrative Offices on Flint Drive. Residents also have the option to register online and join virtually.
Iowa continues to face one of the highest cancer burdens in the country. Recent reports show Iowa has the second‑highest cancer incidence rate in the United States, with rates about 14 percent above the national average. The state recorded more than 21,000 new cancer cases last year, and projections show that number continuing to rise. Public health experts say Iowa’s aging population, high rates of obesity and smoking and limited access to screening in rural areas all contribute to the trend.
Wednesday’s presentation will break down how Buena Vista County fits into that statewide picture. Representatives from the 99 Counties Project will share the latest local data, including cancer incidence, mortality and risk factors drawn from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The session is designed not just to inform, but to listen — giving residents, health officials and community leaders a chance to raise concerns and suggest ways to improve cancer outcomes here at home.
Guest speakers include Dr. Mary Charlton, Director of the Iowa Cancer Registry, and Amanda Kahl, an epidemiologist with the Registry. They’ll walk through the numbers, answer questions and discuss what steps communities can take to reduce cancer risk and improve early detection.
The project is a collaboration between the Iowa Cancer Consortium, the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Iowa Rural Health Association. It’s part of a statewide push to better understand why cancer is rising in Iowa — and what each county can do to turn the trend around.
Registration for the Buena Vista County meeting is available at tinyurl.com/buenavistaco.
