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The latest news from every corner of the state, including policy emerging from Missouri's capitol.

Rural Residents Are Less Likely To Develop Colon Cancer, But More Likely To Die From It

Iron County Medical Center in Pilot Knob is at risk of closing. It's an example of poorer access to health care in rural areas of Missouri.
Iron County Medical Center
Iron County Medical Center in Pilot Knob is at risk of closing. It's an example of poorer access to health care in rural areas of Missouri.

Across the country, people who live in rural areas are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer than city dwellers, according to a new study published in the Journal of Rural Health.

Patients living in counties far from populated cities and suburbs were 1.23 times more likely to be diagnosed with non-curable, stage 4 colon cancer than people living in urban areas, according to the research. That’s despite rural residents having lower rates of developing the disease.

Treatment outcomes are also worse for rural patients, with various studies finding they have an 8% to 15% greater chance of dying from colon cancer.

That comes as no surprise to Dr. Hope Tinker, a primary care physician working in the small central Missouri town of Fayette. 

There aren’t enough doctors in rural Missouri, said Tinker, who also does rounds at rural nursing homes. And that shortage means people don’t seek medical care until it’s too late.

“Especially with something like colon cancer, where we know that if you catch the precancerous problems then that’s a very treatable disease,” Tinker said.

Tinker says delaying care can mean the difference between having precancerous problems successfully treated and dying from cancer.

More physicians and clinics in rural areas "would improve access to care. And that’s the basic deal with these colon cancer deaths. When it’s harder to get in to see doctors, then people delay care,” Tinker said.

MORE: Durbin Bill Would Bolster Program That Aids New Doctors Who Work In Underserved Areas

The American Cancer Society recommends that people begin screening for colon cancer at age 45 — and sooner for those with a family history of the disease. Colon cancer is 90% curable when detected early, according to the organization.

Colon cancer death rates may be a bellwether, suggesting that other diseases may have disproportionately high rates in rural areas.

Colon cancer is a good marker, said Dr. Robin Blake, professor emeritus of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Missouri. “The same thing is likely going on with other diseases like hypertension, diabetes and other forms of cancer,” she said.

Blake said the state expanding Medicaid in Missouri would encourage people to get preventive care.

“Since the politicians in Jefferson City declined to expand Medicaid, there have been five rural hospitals that have closed in Missouri,” Blake said. 

“Rural physicians who could be catching things like the early stages of colon cancer are dependent on Medicaid reimbursements to see patients and stay in practice.”

Follow Jonathan on Twitter: @JonathanAhl

Send questions and comments about this story to feedback@stlpublicradio.org

 

Copyright 2019 St. Louis Public Radio

Jonathan Ahl reports from the Rolla Bureau for St. Louis Public Radio. His duties also include covering central and southern Missouri for Harvest Public Media. Before coming to St. Louis Public Radio in November of 2018, Jonathan was the General Manager for Tri States Public Radio in Macomb, Illinois. He previously was the News Director at Iowa Public Radio and before that at WCBU in Peoria, Illinois. Jonathan has also held reporting positions in central Illinois for public radio stations. Jonathan is originally from the Chicago area. He has a B.A. in Music Theory and Composition from Western Illinois University and an M.A. in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois at Springfield. He is an avid long distance runner, semi-professional saxophonist and die-hard Chicago Cubs fan.