Tucson News NowState's cancer rates lowest US

State's cancer rates lowest US

Posted: Updated:
By Kevin Adger - email
TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -

According to the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control. Cancer incidence rates in Arizona are the lowest in the nation.

The state has the lowest rates of all cancers combined among men and women.

The study has raised a red flag among medical professionals. "I think part of the reasons that were having low detection rates in Arizona is because our screen rates are low," said Karen Narum.

Narum is a nurse practitioner at Tucson Medical Center Women's Health.

The study also concludes that many of the patients in the state get diagnosed way too late. So by the time the cancer is discovered it can possible lead to death.

Narum's suggestion, "prevention, prevention and screening."

The American Cancer Society guidelines.

Yearly mammograms for women over age 40 years old. A prostate exam every 1-2 years for men over age 45. A colonscopy every 10 years for men and women over age 50.

Copyright 2012 Tucson News Now. All rights reserved.

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