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Northeast Michigan has higher rates of smokers, lung cancer than statewide

News photo by Crystal Nelson Curt Hampton, radiation therapist at MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena, adjusts a part of the linear accelerator used in radiation treatment.

ALPENA — The number of people who have been diagnosed with and die from lung cancer in most Northeast Michigan counties is higher than across the state, according to data recently compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Montmorency County has the highest incidence and mortality rates for lung or bronchus cancer in the region, according to DHHS’s Michigan Cancer Atlas. The state says 73.5 out of every 100,000 people in Montmorency County were diagnosed with that type of cancer and 55.9 out of every 100,000 people die from lung or bronchus cancer.

Comparatively, 63.9 out of 100,000 people were diagnosed with lung or bronchus cancer in the state and 45.4 out of 100,000 people died from lung cancer.

Statistics show the cancer and mortality rates for residents of Presque Isle County is a little lower than the state average, with 44 out of 100,000 people dying from lung cancer. The Cancer Atlas shows Presque Isle County has fewer risk factors contributing to such cancers, such as fewer residents older than 65 and fewer people who are uninsured.

Medical professionals say the higher rates of lung cancer in the region are tied to a high rate of smoking here. Also affecting the cancer rates are whether patients get lung cancer screenings at the appropriate age and whether the patient receives an early or late-stage diagnosis.

Joan Herbert, director for the Oncology Service Line at MidMichigan Health, said Alpena County is known to have a higher rate of smoking than other counties in the state. The state report found that 23.6% of the population in Northeast Michigan currently smokes, compared to 20.7% statewide.

“Smoking really does contribute to approximately 90% of all lung cancers,” Herbert said. “I would say that’s probably the number-one thing that contributes towards your risk for getting lung cancer and about 90% of the patients we end up diagnosing and treating either are current smokers or have smoked in the past but quit.”

Northeast Michigan also has a higher number of people who should receive lung cancer screening starting at the age of 55. Statistics in the Cancer Atlas show approximately 7.6% of the population here — the highest percentage in the state — are in need of lung cancer screenings, compared to 2.9% statewide.

The region also has a higher percentage of people who are diagnosed with lung or bronchus cancer at a late stage. At 78.5%, Presque Isle County leads the region in late-stage lung cancer diagnosis, followed by Montmorency County at 74%, Alpena County at 76.3%, and Alcona County at 66.7%.

Knowing the region has a higher smoking rate, health officials have focused on screenings, which are most likely to reduce the incidence and mortality rates for lung and bronchus cancer.

Taylor Olsabeck, cancer epidemiologist at DHHS, said public health officials have identified the region as needing more education about lung cancer screenings.

Olsabeck said the state launched a media campaign in the northern Lower Peninsula last year focusing on lung cancer screening. She said they ran public service announcements on radio stations and had signage at gas stations and convenience stores.

“We have flagged the northern part of the Lower Peninsula, in general, as an area in Michigan that needs some extra help with understanding that people who smoke are potentially eligible for lung cancer screenings, and that they should be referred on to screening,” Olsabeck said. “If they were referred to screening, hopefully incidents of lung cancer and mortality would be decreasing.”

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.

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