Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Cancer
Trends in Cancer-and Respiratory Failure-Related Mortality in the US Adult Population: An Analysis of the CDC WONDER Database from 1999 to 2023
Examines how trends in respiratory failure-associated mortality among adults with cancer differ by rurality, state, age, sex, and other demographics, using 1999-2023 CDC WONDER data.
Author(s): Chengchi Xia, Tianshu Rong, Baoqing Wang
Citation: Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society, 4
Date: 03/2026
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Examines how trends in respiratory failure-associated mortality among adults with cancer differ by rurality, state, age, sex, and other demographics, using 1999-2023 CDC WONDER data.
Author(s): Chengchi Xia, Tianshu Rong, Baoqing Wang
Citation: Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society, 4
Date: 03/2026
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Cancer in Iowa 2026
Provides data on cancer incidence, characteristics, and survival in Iowa. Provides county-level estimates of new cancers, cancer deaths, and those living with cancer as of 2026. Features a section on how cancer impacts Iowa's farming population and related issues of agricultural health, drinking water quality, and pesticide use.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Iowa Cancer Registry
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Provides data on cancer incidence, characteristics, and survival in Iowa. Provides county-level estimates of new cancers, cancer deaths, and those living with cancer as of 2026. Features a section on how cancer impacts Iowa's farming population and related issues of agricultural health, drinking water quality, and pesticide use.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Iowa Cancer Registry
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Glioblastoma Survival in Rural America: A 10-Year Experience from a Quaternary Care Center
Examines factors influencing glioblastoma survival and overall prognosis among West Virginians, using medical record data of 380 adults treated at WVU Ruby Memorial Hospital between January 2015 and August 2025. Includes data on patient rurality, sex, treatment received, and more. Discusses the role of referrals in mitigating rural access barriers for cancer care and improving rural cancer outcomes.
Author(s): Emily Pack, Christopher P. Cifarelli, Sanjay Bhatia, et al.
Citation: Journal of Neuro-Oncology, 177(36)
Date: 03/2026
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Examines factors influencing glioblastoma survival and overall prognosis among West Virginians, using medical record data of 380 adults treated at WVU Ruby Memorial Hospital between January 2015 and August 2025. Includes data on patient rurality, sex, treatment received, and more. Discusses the role of referrals in mitigating rural access barriers for cancer care and improving rural cancer outcomes.
Author(s): Emily Pack, Christopher P. Cifarelli, Sanjay Bhatia, et al.
Citation: Journal of Neuro-Oncology, 177(36)
Date: 03/2026
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Assessment of Rebound in Cancer Diagnoses in California in 2022, by Stage, Sociodemographic Factors, and Rurality
Examines how cancer diagnoses differed in California in 2022 by sociodemographic and geographic group, using 2001-2022 NCI SEER data. See Supplementary Tables for data breakdowns by cancer type and level of rurality.
Author(s): Erin L. Van Blarigan, Alison J. Canchola, Li Zhu, et al.
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 35(3), 415-419
Date: 03/2026
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Examines how cancer diagnoses differed in California in 2022 by sociodemographic and geographic group, using 2001-2022 NCI SEER data. See Supplementary Tables for data breakdowns by cancer type and level of rurality.
Author(s): Erin L. Van Blarigan, Alison J. Canchola, Li Zhu, et al.
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 35(3), 415-419
Date: 03/2026
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Demographic and Geographic Heterogeneity in Tongue Cancer Mortality in the United States, 1999–2020
Analyzes trends in tongue cancer mortality rates by sex, race or ethnicity, rurality, and more, using 1999-2020 CDC WONDER data. See Table 1 and Figure 1 for rural-urban comparison data.
Author(s): Aifeng Gong, Hengfa Ge, Chenchen Yang
Citation: Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 19
Date: 02/2026
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Analyzes trends in tongue cancer mortality rates by sex, race or ethnicity, rurality, and more, using 1999-2020 CDC WONDER data. See Table 1 and Figure 1 for rural-urban comparison data.
Author(s): Aifeng Gong, Hengfa Ge, Chenchen Yang
Citation: Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 19
Date: 02/2026
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Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis of Urban vs. Rural Survival Outcomes from the United States' National Cancer Institute, a SEER Based Study
Compares Merkel cell carcinoma survival outcomes among rural and urban patients using 2010-2021 SEER data. Discusses the role of access barriers on cancer mortality among rural populations.
Author(s): Grace Evelyn Steinback, Joycie Chang, Anand Rajpara, Michael Siscos
Citation: Clinical Surgical Oncology, 5(1), 100120
Date: 02/2026
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Compares Merkel cell carcinoma survival outcomes among rural and urban patients using 2010-2021 SEER data. Discusses the role of access barriers on cancer mortality among rural populations.
Author(s): Grace Evelyn Steinback, Joycie Chang, Anand Rajpara, Michael Siscos
Citation: Clinical Surgical Oncology, 5(1), 100120
Date: 02/2026
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Survival of Patients Diagnosed With Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines survival rates of cancer patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, using 2015-2021 SEER-21 database data. Includes rural-urban breakdowns, among other demographic and clinical data comparisons.
Author(s): Todd Burus, Haluk Damgacioglu, Bin Huang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Oncology
Date: 02/2026
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Examines survival rates of cancer patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, using 2015-2021 SEER-21 database data. Includes rural-urban breakdowns, among other demographic and clinical data comparisons.
Author(s): Todd Burus, Haluk Damgacioglu, Bin Huang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Oncology
Date: 02/2026
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Roadblocks to Rural Health: State Transportation Policies' Impact on Health Care Access in Virginia's Rural Communities: 2021–2022
Examines transportation barriers that impact healthcare access and provides actionable strategies to remove barriers. Discusses collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to change signage policy and install directional signs to a rural Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Analyzes the subsequent impacts on access and cancer screening rates, as well as the importance of collaborating across community agencies.
Author(s): Katherine Y. Tossas, Bianca D. Owens, Michael O'Grady, Jinlei Zhao, Robert A. Winn
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 116(2), 175-179
Date: 02/2026
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Examines transportation barriers that impact healthcare access and provides actionable strategies to remove barriers. Discusses collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to change signage policy and install directional signs to a rural Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Analyzes the subsequent impacts on access and cancer screening rates, as well as the importance of collaborating across community agencies.
Author(s): Katherine Y. Tossas, Bianca D. Owens, Michael O'Grady, Jinlei Zhao, Robert A. Winn
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 116(2), 175-179
Date: 02/2026
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JCO Oncology Practice: Understaffed and Overbooked: The Problems with Maintaining Specialty Care in Rural Areas
Podcast episode discussing the results of a study on rural oncologists' experiences with specialist scarcity in rural areas, and details how oncology workforce shortages contribute to reduced access to care and increased physician burnout. Transcript available below audio player.
Author(s): Fumiko Chino, Erika Moen, Dan Zuckerman
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: JCO Oncology Practice
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Podcast episode discussing the results of a study on rural oncologists' experiences with specialist scarcity in rural areas, and details how oncology workforce shortages contribute to reduced access to care and increased physician burnout. Transcript available below audio player.
Author(s): Fumiko Chino, Erika Moen, Dan Zuckerman
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: JCO Oncology Practice
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Advancing Rural Cancer Control: A Portfolio Analysis of Research Funded by the National Cancer Institute, 2016–2024
Highlights a study exploring cancer control-focused grants funded by the National Cancer Institute for research opportunities to identify methods to close rural and urban disparities in cancer outcomes. Details rural grants from 2016 to 2024, their healthcare focus, and location of cancer treated.
Author(s): Anna Gaysynsky, Sallie J. Weaver, Robin C. Vanderpool, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70120
Date: 01/2026
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Highlights a study exploring cancer control-focused grants funded by the National Cancer Institute for research opportunities to identify methods to close rural and urban disparities in cancer outcomes. Details rural grants from 2016 to 2024, their healthcare focus, and location of cancer treated.
Author(s): Anna Gaysynsky, Sallie J. Weaver, Robin C. Vanderpool, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70120
Date: 01/2026
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