City-dwellers more likely to develop cancer
People living in urban areas more likely to develop late-stage cancer
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Monday, 11, May 2009 08:11
People living in urban areas are more likely to develop late-stage cancer than those who live in suburban and rural areas, new research claims.
The study published in the journal Cancer looked at cancer data from the US state of Illinois.
The authors assessed late-stage cancer diagnoses of the four major types of cancer (breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate) throughout the state, comparing data from cities with those from less-populated regions.
The researchers found that for all four cancers, risk was highest in the most highly urbanised area (Chicago) and decreased as areas became more rural.
However, in the most isolated rural areas, risk was also high. Risks were considerably low among patients living in large towns in rural areas.
The report found that for colorectal and prostate cancers, and to a lesser extent breast cancer, the disparities stemmed mainly from differences in the ages and races of individuals in the various geographic areas.
A high concentration of vulnerable populations and economically disadvantaged areas in Chicago and its suburbs for example accounted for the high rates of late-stage diagnosis found in the highly urban areas.
Among the different races, the black population was particularly vulnerable to late diagnosis. In contrast, the lower rates of late-stage diagnosis in rural areas reflected the greater presence of elderly patients who have a lower risk of late-stage diagnosis.
The authors conclude: "The concentration of health disadvantage in highly urbanised places emphasizes the need for more extensive urban-based cancer screening and education programs, especially programs targeted to the most vulnerable urban populations and neighborhoods."