UI Health Care to create $280M network to fight high cancer rate in Iowa
Editor’s Note: Iowa Health Care’s cancer network proposal was unanimously approved by The Iowa Board of Regents on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
This story has been updated to include new information.
University of Iowa Health Care and Mission Cancer + Blood plan to join forces to address Iowa’s high cancer rates through its 280 million cancer care network nationwide.
Studies show that Iowa has one of the fastest growing cancer rates in the country.
Mission will soon join UI Health Care to “bring cutting-edge oncology care closer to home for more Iowans, especially in rural areas,” according to a news release.
The $280 million agreement between Mission and UI Health Care seeks to address Iowa’s high cancer rates by providing opportunities for oncologists to work together to maintain care for home and increase access to cancer diagnosis, treatment and research throughout Iowa.
Mission Cancer + Blood, which has provided cancer care in Iowa for more than 40 years, will continue to provide oncology care at its 20 locations across the state, with the help of UI Health Care and its Holden Comprehensive Center Cancer in Iowa City, news release. said. Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center is Iowa’s only nationally designated cancer center and one of 57 nationally designated cancer centers.
The Iowa Board of Regents must approve the agreement before it becomes final. It will go before the seven-member board, which governs Iowa’s three state universities, on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
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Iowa has the fastest growing rate of new cancers
Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the nation, according to the 2024 Iowa Cancer Registry, while the state is home to the fastest growing rate of new infections. The most common types of cancer Iowans contract are breast, prostate, lung and skin cancer.
The cancer registry predicts that 6,100 people will die from cancer in Iowa this year.
Experts note that understanding what actually causes cancer is difficult, as there is no single culprit.
Des Moines oncologist Richard L. Deming said in an interview Monday that Iowans should be “worried” about the high rates of cancer.
“(They) should ask their civil servants what they are going to do about it,” he said. “How much are we going to invest in research to find out why we have such a high incidence of cancer, and are we going to create public policy to help reduce the burden of cancer? “
The cancer registry notes that an increase in cancer can be attributed to alcohol consumption, although Deming said that high cancer rates can also be linked to exposure to radon, “a naturally occurring substance that can underground,” which is ubiquitous. Iowa.
Scientists have also noted that the increase in cancer can be linked to the use of modern agricultural chemicals, especially nitrates in fertilizers that enter water sources.
“All these chemical exposures probably also contribute to the high cancer rate in Iowa,” Deming said. “So those are some of the causes. Obesity, alcohol consumption, radon and agricultural chemicals are some of the suspects as to why Iowa has a higher incidence of cancer than surrounding countries.”
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Pushing to increase cancer awareness
This new partnership aims to increase access to cancer treatment, research and detection in each of Iowa’s 99 counties.
“By joining forces with UI Health Care, we can offer more patients access to comprehensive services, shorter time between diagnosis and treatment for rare and difficult cancers, and expanded options for recent treatments offered as part of clinical trials,” Phil Stover, Mission’s chief executive officer said in a news release.
Mission says it wants to work with the University of Iowa because it has a shared vision of providing cancer care “for Iowans, by Iowans.”
“This agreement will strengthen our commitment to providing the highest quality care and outcomes for patients with cancer,” Stover said. “UI Health Care is committed to providing long-term, sustainable employment and meaningful engagement for all members of the Mission team, which is essential to the continued success of this partnership.”
Cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute are often located in academic medical centers with heavy research and clinical trials, said Laura Shoemaker, Director of Community Relations at University of Iowa Health Care.
“One benefit of this agreement is that Mission’s current patients will soon have access to enhanced resources at UI Health Care’s comprehensive cancer center, such as the latest treatments and clinical trials,” he said.
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The University of Iowa is also planning a new cancer research center
Monday’s announcement comes just weeks after the University of Iowa unveiled plans to build a new cancer research center.
The university expects the state-of-the-art facility to encourage collaboration in health sciences programs because its cancer-related laboratory research area has reached capacity and cannot expand.
“This project will provide the ability to conduct state-of-the-art cancer research, allowing UI Health Care to remain competitive in the recruitment and retention of world-class staff, workers and trainees, ” said the University of Iowa. presentation to the Iowa Board of Regents last month.
Research is needed to reduce the deadly effects of cancer, says the oncologist
Deming says Iowa needs to push the boundaries of research to find out why cancer is so common in Iowa and help delay the prognosis. He wants public policy to “help reduce the burden of cancer.”
“Once we know what causes it, will we have the ability to make public policy to reduce the radon burden and (reduce) the burden of exposure to agricultural chemicals?” he said.
He said that reducing smoking habits and reducing obesity could be other measures as well.
“Everyone should ask our public officials what we are doing to invest in research to find the answer and what we are doing to invest in public policy to reduce the burden of cancer in Iowa,” said Deming.
The Iowa Board of Regents grants one permit
The Iowa Board of Regents unanimously approved a $280 million cancer care network in a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Oct. rural villages.
“Our goal is to prove that we are committed to being good partners. We would like to provide more cancer care in your area,” said CEO of UI Healthcare Bradley Haws. “It’s not a game to have more and more patients coming to us in Iowa City that can be served in their hometowns, or in Des Moines.”
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, food and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He can be reached atJRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
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