Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Cancer

Cannabis Use and Perceptions among Rural and Urban Cancer Patients and Survivors from a Pennsylvania Cancer Center
Explores how perceptions of cannabis use vary among 186 rural and urban or suburban cancer patients who received treatment from Penn State Cancer Institute between June 2023 and June 2024. Compares openness to use, perceived benefits and risks, and more.
Author(s): Jeremy Ireland, Leah Holben, Cheryl L. Thompson, et al.
Citation: Supportive Care in Cancer, 34, 1074
Date: 10/2026
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Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Use, Facility Mammography Volume, and Timely Follow-Up After Abnormal Screening Mammograms in Appalachia, United States
Explores the effect of facility-level characteristics, such as rural versus urban location, and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) use on post-screening follow-up times in rural versus urban areas in Appalachia. Breaks down data by facility volume and individual patient characteristics that are associated with follow-up delay.
Author(s): Silas Selorm Daniels-Donkor, Fabian T. Camacho, Gloribel Bonilla, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70229
Date: 10/2026
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Cancer Risk Factors, Screening, and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Deprivation Across the U.S. Urban-to-Frontier Continuum
Presents a study on geographic variation in cancer risk behaviors and screening across the metropolitan-to-frontier continuum. Identifies demographic characteristics and cancer-related behaviors and screening access in rural, urban, and frontier areas. Explores rates of alcohol use, tobacco use, and physical activity, among other factors, by geography.
Author(s): Brody Gibson, Laurie Grieshober, Rachel M Ceballos, et al.
Citation: Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs, lgag021
Date: 10/2026
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Medical Debt and Advanced Cancer Stage at Diagnosis
Explores how medical debt burden is associated with incidence of 9 common cancers at the county level, using 2017-2021 data from multiple national datasets. Includes comparisons of medical debt prevalence in rural versus urban counties.
Author(s): Jiazhang Xing, Xuesong Han, Xin Hu, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(10), e2637508
Date: 10/2026
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Personalized Environmental Risk Communication and Cancer Screening Intent among Rural Private Well Users
Presents findings from a private well testing and cancer education initiative in Georgia's Tattnall, Bulloch, and Evans counties. Includes data on well contaminants, understanding of well testing results, environmental risk communication, and cancer screening intent among 100 rural well owners.
Author(s): Victoria Clower, Andrew Hansen, Jeff Jones, Asli Aslan
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 70, 103620
Date: 10/2026
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Cannabis Assessment in Oncology Patients—Evaluation Survey: Understanding Usage Patterns in a Rural Radiation Cohort in Kentucky
Explores the use and perceptions of unprescribed medicinal cannabis among 237 adults receiving radiation therapy in Kentucky between July 2023 and February 2024. Includes comparisons by rural or urban dwelling and treatment location.
Author(s): Evans Amoah, Waleed F. Mourad, Marcus E. Randall, et al.
Citation: The Oncologist, 31(11), oyag370
Date: 09/2026
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An Adapted Enhanced Social Prescribing Intervention vs. Usual Care in the Treatment of Loneliness in Cancer Survivors: Study Protocol for a Feasibility Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Study protocol to examine the feasibility and impact of the Social Prescribing model on loneliness and quality of life among cancer survivors. Participants will be recruited from rural and rural-serving primary care practices in the Northeastern United States.
Author(s): Brooke Ike, Allison Cole, Brennan Keiser, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(9), e0350956
Date: 09/2026
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National Trends and Disparities in Mortality Involving Bladder Cancer and Substance Use Disorders in the United States, 1999–2023
Examines trends in bladder cancer mortality with co-occurring substance use disorders between 1999 and 2023 using CDC WONDER data. Includes demographic breakdowns and metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan comparisons.
Author(s): Kanza Atif, Unsa Arif, Muhammad Ali Gorish, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Oncology, 16, 1883338
Date: 09/2026
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Associations of County-Level Urbanicity With Overall Survival Across 19 Solid Tumor Groups, 2004–2023: A SEER Cohort Study of 5.5 Million Patients
Analyzes how cancer survival varies by rurality at diagnosis across 19 tumor groups, including prostate, lung, kidney, and other cancers, using 2004-2023 SEER data.
Author(s): Lihui Liang, Jiancheng Huang, Qingbai Jiang
Citation: Cancer Control, 33
Date: 09/2026
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Rural–Urban and Appalachian Disparities in Geographic Access to Colonoscopy and Screening Prevalence Across the Contiguous US
Results of a study comparing access to colonoscopy providers. Features statistics on diagnostic/therapeutic procedures and screening procedures, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas and Appalachian and non-Appalachian areas and by type of colonoscopy provider.
Author(s): Sima Namin, R. Eric Heidel, Martin Whiteside, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 09/2026
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