Kentucky has the highest rates of cancer occurrence and mortality in the United States.
With about 521 new cases per 100,000 people and a death rate of 198 per 100,000 people, Kentucky has the sad distinction of having the highest cancer rate and highest cancer death rate in the country.
The most common cancer in that state is leukemia, liver & bile duct, lung and bronchus, and skin melanoma.
It also ranked in the top ten nationally for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancers. All these cancers are said to be driven by smoking, obesity, and lack of screening.
Moreover, one of the biggest reasons for the exceptionally high cancer rates is not because of inadequate treatment but at what stage the cancer is usually detected.
It is vital to screen the population to find the disease in time and give them the proper treatment.
Compared to the rest of the state and country, the eastern part of Kentucky, which is poor, remote, and underserved, has significantly higher rates of cancer, diabetes, and heart and lung disease mortality and morbidity.
The situation in the region, whose population is less than 15 percent of the entire state, has shown the significant disparity of the critical significance of preventive care and other factors that could have prevented this population from risk.
These populations at risk are suffering from needless pain, anguish, and even untimely death, considering that insurance is more available and medical treatments are more advanced.
The health disparities between the urban and rural populations emphasize the social and economic lines between the two regions. These poor counties lack the necessary infrastructures like roads and dependable transportation to support a strong economy.
Moreover, Eastern Kentucky residents have extended families, leading to a high incidence of inherited cancers. They are predisposed to colorectal cancer and Lynch syndrome, an inherited trait that predisposes carriers to a higher risk of colon cancer than the general population.
Studies show that limited access to care, reduced income, and genetic predispositions can contribute to and increase a person’s risk of cancer. If all of these factors are present, as in the case of the Eastern Kentuckians, then they are at the highest possible chance of the disease.
The University of Kentucky's public health and policy experts adapt to the region's historical and structural limitations by constructing a new public health and prevention system. The delivery of public healthcare to patients has resulted in increased health screenings and a decrease in cancer-related deaths.
Health screening is critical as it is an effective way of detecting early if a patient is at risk of or has a condition or specific disease, even if there are no signs or symptoms of the disease. The patient will be able to get the proper treatment at the appropriate moment, which results in having better control over their health.
The government needs to step up and help better the lives of Kentucky, especially those in the eastern part.