The Truth about Cancer in Southwest Louisiana
Do we live in "cancer alley"? Are there higher cancer numbers in Southwest Louisiana compared to the rest of the country? Does geography play a part in a cancer diagnosis?
These questions have been a lingering cloud over Southwest Louisiana. Cancer is a frightening diagnosis. A prevailing question many have is whether or not living in Southwest Louisiana might increase their risk for cancer due to the number of industrial plants in this area.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals reviewed cancer rates in Calcasieu Parish for the years 1987 – 1997 and reported that overall cancer incidence rates were comparable to cancer incidence rates statewide. Louisiana’s cancer rate as compared to the rest of the nation is the same, according to the American Cancer Society: people nationwide have a one in three chance of getting cancer at some point in their lives.
“The fact is we do have a higher cancer mortality rate in Southwest Louisiana, but we are in the national average for cancer incidence. These two factors are crucial to understanding what’s really happening in our area concerning cancer,” said Henry Goolsby, MD, oncologist with Lake Charles Medical and Surgical Clinic.
The two issues at hand are:
• incidence rate – the rate of occurrence
• mortality rate – the number of deaths attributed to cancer
The facts about incidence rate vs. death rate beg the question: why are we on par with the rest of the nation when it comes to cancer diagnosis, but members of our community are dying at a higher rate? To answer this, local physicians are joining together with Lake Area Industry Alliance in an effort to dispel the cancer alley myth and talk about the facts associated with cancer.
“Because geography has been taken off the table, so to speak, we have to look at why people are dying from cancer at a higher rate in our area,” said Dr. Goolsby. “There are risk factors that can’t be changed, such as family history and age. But people have more control over their cancer risk than they think. As an oncologist, I treat cancer patients every day. I know that when cancer is discovered early, we have a much higher success rate in beating it. Early detection is crucial.” He continued, “There have been so many advances in cancer treatment. We’re able to save more lives than ever before thanks to early detection. But, people have to see their doctors to get screened.”
Lifestyle plays a key role in cancer death rates. Risky lifestyle behaviors that impact cancer rates include:
• Smoking or tobacco use
• Lack of exercise
• Alcohol abuse
• Excessive exposure to sunlight
• Poor nutrition – high cholesterol, high fat, high sodium foods
Rounding out the list of lifestyle factors that contribute to a high cancer death rate is the fact that residents in Southwest Louisiana don’t get screened for cancers as often as people in other parts of the country. “Seeing a doctor regularly contributes to good health. If cancer is found, there are treatments that can be done early on that aren’t an option if it’s found later,” said Ken Thomas, MD, family medicine physician with West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital.
"Our message is simple: the earlier cancer is detected, the better the chance of survival," said Dr. Thomas. “We want to correct the perception that people have no control over whether or not they get cancer. They actually have more control than they realize. Lifestyle factors make up about 2/3 of all cancers diagnosed. So, by living a healthier life, we could dramatically decrease the number of cancers diagnosed, which would also decrease the cancer death rate.”
Area doctors in Southwest Louisiana are hoping people will pay attention to the facts about cancer in Southwest Louisiana and then take a look at their own lifestyle and change behaviors that aren’t healthy.
