Cancer Prevention and Treatment in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Cancer Prevention and Treatment in Rural Areas.
Travel Burden and Bypassing Closest Site for Surgical Cancer Treatment for Urban and Rural Oncology Patients
Examines travel burden to surgical cancer care and its relationship to rurality, bypassing of the nearest surgical site, and mortality rates. Analyzes 2016-218 data of 211,025 Medicare beneficiaries with cancer and includes breakdowns for type of cancer, surgery versus no surgery, patient demographics, patient health conditions, travel time, mortality rates, and location of metro, micro, or small town/rural.
Author(s): Tracy Onega, Niveditta Ramkumar, Gabriel A. Brooks, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 2025
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Examines travel burden to surgical cancer care and its relationship to rurality, bypassing of the nearest surgical site, and mortality rates. Analyzes 2016-218 data of 211,025 Medicare beneficiaries with cancer and includes breakdowns for type of cancer, surgery versus no surgery, patient demographics, patient health conditions, travel time, mortality rates, and location of metro, micro, or small town/rural.
Author(s): Tracy Onega, Niveditta Ramkumar, Gabriel A. Brooks, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 2025
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Trends in and Factors Associated with Family Physician-Performed Screening Colonoscopies in the United States: 2016-2021
Examines factors and trends related to family physician (FP)-performed colonoscopy screenings. Analyzes 2016-2021 insurance claims data from 2,943,900 qualified colonoscopies, with data breakdowns according to patient demographics, accrued charges, region, and urban-rural classification, including large central metro, large fringe metro, medium metro, small metro, micropolitan, and noncore. Discusses the impact of FP-performed colonoscopy screenings for certain populations, including rural.
Author(s): Nicholas Edwardson, David van der Goes, V. Shane Pankratz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1)
Date: 2025
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Examines factors and trends related to family physician (FP)-performed colonoscopy screenings. Analyzes 2016-2021 insurance claims data from 2,943,900 qualified colonoscopies, with data breakdowns according to patient demographics, accrued charges, region, and urban-rural classification, including large central metro, large fringe metro, medium metro, small metro, micropolitan, and noncore. Discusses the impact of FP-performed colonoscopy screenings for certain populations, including rural.
Author(s): Nicholas Edwardson, David van der Goes, V. Shane Pankratz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1)
Date: 2025
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Closing the Distance: A Qualitative Study to Identify Equitable Innovations for Rural Thyroid Cancer Treatment
Examines differences in thyroid cancer care between rural and urban communities. Utilizes interview feedback from rural surgeons from various states that cover issues such as training, access to medical specialties, telemedicine opportunities, and collaboration with colleagues.
Author(s): Hattie H. Huston-Paterson, Yifan V. Mao, Elena G. Hughes, et al.
Citation: The American Surgeon, 91(4)
Date: 12/2024
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Examines differences in thyroid cancer care between rural and urban communities. Utilizes interview feedback from rural surgeons from various states that cover issues such as training, access to medical specialties, telemedicine opportunities, and collaboration with colleagues.
Author(s): Hattie H. Huston-Paterson, Yifan V. Mao, Elena G. Hughes, et al.
Citation: The American Surgeon, 91(4)
Date: 12/2024
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Rural-Urban Disparities and Trends in Cancer Screening: An Analysis of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data (2018-2022)
Examines trends in up-to-date cancer screening in rural and urban populations, utilizing 2018, 2020, and 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. Identifies geographic disparities in screening by cancer type, with data on breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers.
Author(s): Gabriel A Benavidez, Ami E Sedani, Tisha M Felder, Matthew Asare, Charles R Rogers
Citation: JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 8(6), pkae113
Date: 11/2024
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Examines trends in up-to-date cancer screening in rural and urban populations, utilizing 2018, 2020, and 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. Identifies geographic disparities in screening by cancer type, with data on breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers.
Author(s): Gabriel A Benavidez, Ami E Sedani, Tisha M Felder, Matthew Asare, Charles R Rogers
Citation: JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 8(6), pkae113
Date: 11/2024
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Building a Rural Cancer Care Network: Federal Funding Supports Collaboration of Urban, Regional, and Local Organizations
Features a rural cancer care network in Georgia funded by a federal care coordination grant that brings together an urban nonprofit organization, a regional healthcare system with rural locations, and a local rural physician's office. Highlights the network's work related to patient navigation and clinical cancer trial enrollment.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features a rural cancer care network in Georgia funded by a federal care coordination grant that brings together an urban nonprofit organization, a regional healthcare system with rural locations, and a local rural physician's office. Highlights the network's work related to patient navigation and clinical cancer trial enrollment.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Bridging Gaps in Breast Cancer Screening: A Comparative Study of Mexican Women in U.S. Rural and Urban Areas
Examines factors influencing breast cancer screening disparities among 350 Mexican immigrant women aged 40+ in rural and urban communities in Illinois. Compares rural and urban prevalence of barriers and facilitators to screening, including data on geographic and cultural factors.
Author(s): Venera Bekteshi, Mario Schootman
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 15
Date: 11/2024
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Examines factors influencing breast cancer screening disparities among 350 Mexican immigrant women aged 40+ in rural and urban communities in Illinois. Compares rural and urban prevalence of barriers and facilitators to screening, including data on geographic and cultural factors.
Author(s): Venera Bekteshi, Mario Schootman
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 15
Date: 11/2024
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High-Risk Rural Surgical Patients and Poor Access to Elective Colorectal Cancer Surgery: Insight for Multilevel Intervention for Rural America
Examines factors associated with poor access to elective colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery for rural patients, utilizing 2007-2020 National Inpatient Sample data for 69,212 CRC surgery-related hospitalizations. Breaks down data by race and ethnicity, sex, age, insurance type, region, rural or urban facility, and other demographic, clinical, and facility factors. Discusses access barriers and health disparities experienced by rural populations.
Author(s): Yanick Tadé, Jillian Timperley, Danielle Dilsaver, et al.
Citation: Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, 28(11), 1883-1889
Date: 11/2024
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Examines factors associated with poor access to elective colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery for rural patients, utilizing 2007-2020 National Inpatient Sample data for 69,212 CRC surgery-related hospitalizations. Breaks down data by race and ethnicity, sex, age, insurance type, region, rural or urban facility, and other demographic, clinical, and facility factors. Discusses access barriers and health disparities experienced by rural populations.
Author(s): Yanick Tadé, Jillian Timperley, Danielle Dilsaver, et al.
Citation: Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, 28(11), 1883-1889
Date: 11/2024
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Environmental Inequality in Estimated Cancer Risk from Airborne Toxic Exposure across United States Communities from 2011 to 2019
Examines disparities in cancer risk due to airborne toxic exposure at the census tract level, utilizing American Community Survey, NATA, and AirToxScreen data sets. Breaks down cancer risk data in rural, suburban, and urban census tracts by race, educational attainment, and median household income, with year-by-year comparisons for the period 2011-2019.
Author(s): Patrick Hurbain, Matthew J. Strickland, Yan Liu, Dingsheng Li
Citation: Environmental Science & Technology, 58(43), 19115-19127
Date: 10/2024
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Examines disparities in cancer risk due to airborne toxic exposure at the census tract level, utilizing American Community Survey, NATA, and AirToxScreen data sets. Breaks down cancer risk data in rural, suburban, and urban census tracts by race, educational attainment, and median household income, with year-by-year comparisons for the period 2011-2019.
Author(s): Patrick Hurbain, Matthew J. Strickland, Yan Liu, Dingsheng Li
Citation: Environmental Science & Technology, 58(43), 19115-19127
Date: 10/2024
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Strengthening Rural Health: The Role of HPV Vaccination
Recording of an October 1, 2024, webinar regarding trends in HPV-related cancers in rural areas and the importance of HPV vaccination to cancer prevention. Features Heather Brandt, Director of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's HPV Cancer Prevention Program. Discusses the hospital's efforts to increase HPV vaccinations in rural communities. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of an October 1, 2024, webinar regarding trends in HPV-related cancers in rural areas and the importance of HPV vaccination to cancer prevention. Features Heather Brandt, Director of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's HPV Cancer Prevention Program. Discusses the hospital's efforts to increase HPV vaccinations in rural communities. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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The Burden of HPV-Associated Cancer in Rural America Beyond 2020
Explores the burden of HPV-associated cancer in rural communities after the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights rates of HPV-associated cancer in rural, urban, and metro populations and discusses prevention efforts.
Author(s): Jason Semprini
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 24, 9281
Date: 10/2024
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Explores the burden of HPV-associated cancer in rural communities after the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights rates of HPV-associated cancer in rural, urban, and metro populations and discusses prevention efforts.
Author(s): Jason Semprini
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 24, 9281
Date: 10/2024
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Last Updated: 4/1/2025