University of Iowa researchers say demographics and risk factors like smoking, binge drinking and obesity are linked to 76% of the higher rates for five types of cancers that are common in Iowa.

University of Iowa Public Health professor Mary Charlton, one of the lead researchers, said they found a higher number of unexplained cases in some types of cancers because their causes aren’t entirely known. “Things like prostate cancer, postmenopausal breast cancer, there’s some mystery left to those. You know, we don’t know either on a population basis or an individual level basis what causes all those types of cancers,” Charlton said, “but we know what some of the big risk factors are.”

Researchers looked at factors like age, race, tobacco and alcohol use and county radon levels. State Medical Director Robert Kruse said the findings show there are a lot of ways Iowans can reduce their risk for cancer by making lifestyle changes, getting regular screenings and installing radon mitigation systems.

“The findings do tell us that a substantial portion of Iowa’s cancer burden is associated with factors where proven prevention strategies exist,” he said, “and that means we should not wait to act.”

The state provided funding for the University of Iowa’s initial research into Iowa’s high cancer rates. Researchers say the second year of the project, which is funded by federal dollars, will look into potential genetic and environmental risk factors for prostate, breast, lung, colorectal and melanoma cancers which make up over half of the cancers diagnosed in Iowa.

Find the most recent report at the Iowa Cancer Registry website.

(Reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)