Capitol Letters: Talking about and taking action on cancer rates in Iowa

State Rep. Megan Jones

In late July, Spencer Hospital hosted a meeting called Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project. The question was asked, “What is the state doing?” Great question!

Let’s dig into that more.

In this year’s education budget, there was a $1 million study included to research Iowa’s cancer rates. Additionally, the University of Iowa houses the cancer registry, the college of public health that researches trends from the registry, and millions of dollars of medical research flow through the university annually. More specifically:

• Funding from the National Cancer Institute grants and contracts — $19,613,362.

-This does not count subcontracts that are routed through organizations in other states such as support for Mercy in Des Moines.

-It also does not count cancer grants through other groups such as DOD, VA or NIH institutes other than NCI.

-This funding is provided to:

* Academic centers: University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Des Moines University

* Groups associated with other health systems

* Iowa Oncology Research Association

* Biotech

* Viewpoint Molecular Targeting

* Pxalpha

* Nanomadtrix

* Behavioral Diagnostics

• Cancer research funding to the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center – $39,052,193

• NCI - $13,326,991

• Other NIH and Peer review - $14,036,751

• Industry and other support - $11,688,451

So, there is over $50 million of medical cancer research occurring in Iowa every year.

The cancer registry puts out an annual report: https://shri.public-health.uiowa.edu/cancer-data/reports/iowa-cancer-reports/. This year's report focuses on cancer survivors because many Iowans are able to live after their diagnosis due to early detection. Page 7 of the 2025 report shows the decrease in mortality and increase in five-year survival numbers. Alcohol was a big focus of the 2024 report.

The legislature is always open to suggestions, but I will tell you the public policy suggestions tend to be to increase tobacco and alcohol taxes significantly, limiting pesticide use, making requirements on builders for radon mitigation. Obesity is also a factor discussed often as leading to Iowa’s cancer rates.

Below is a list of cancer-related bills of discussion (not necessarily passed, but relevant to this discussion, and they still have another year of eligibility) from this last legislative session:

• Cost-Sharing for Breast Examinations - HF318 requires insurers to provide the same cost-sharing requirements for supplemental breast examinations and diagnostic breast examinations as they do for mammograms.

• Cancer Research Funding - SF647 appropriated $1 million for cancer research at the University of Iowa

• Radon testing kits – HF1049 appropriates $20,000 to DHHS to be used to make radon test kits available, free of charge, to homeowners and renters in Iowa.

• Cancer Diagnosis and Public Retirement - HF969

• Tanning beds - HF524

• Radon Mitigation - HF1027

I appreciated this meeting and this discussion. Let’s continue it — because it’s not over. We have more work to do.

Contact State Rep. Megan Jones by email: megan.jones@legis.iowa.gov