(Radio Iowa) – University of Iowa researchers have released phase one of their search to identify some of the reasons Iowa has the second highest rate of newly diagnosed cancers in the United States. The group examined demographic factors and behaviors like smoking and binge drinking — and found Iowa has similar demographic factors to Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas and Nebraska. Dr. Mary Charlton, director of the Iowa Cancer Registry, says Iowa’s cancer rate — however — is slightly higher than the region’s.

“I did want to call out our incidence rates for lung cancer. This is one cancer for which we are not like our neighbors,” she said. “We have a higher rate…and the difference seems to be widening and unfortunately this plays out into lung cancer having a higher mortality rate in Iowa than in our neighboring states.” Breast cancer, skin cancer and prostate cancer have been increasing more steeply in Iowa since 2013.

“Colon cancer is higher in Iowa compared to the U.S., but it has been decreasing at about the same rate as in the U.S.,” she said. “While lung cancer is decreasing in both Iowa and the U.S., it is decreasing at a much slower rate in Iowa and the difference continues to widen over time.” Dr. Jacob Oleson, a professor of biostatistics in the University of Iowa College of Public Health, says they’re still digging through the data, but 87 of Iowa’s 99 counties have cancer rates that are significantly higher than the national trend.

“In year two, we’ll continue the analysis of environmental and genetic data as well as evidence-based prevention programs,” Oleson said. Governor Reynolds says cancer is a complex disease and the research is showing there’s not one single cause driving Iowa’s cancer rate. “When someone you love gets sick it’s natural to put all of your energy and resources into one thing that might stop it from happening again,” Reynolds said, “and I wish the answer was that simple.”

The governor’s husband, who has never been a smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer in September of 2023. A year later the governor announced Kevin Reynolds’ cancer was not curable, but is in remission.