Our Finest Hour?
May 4, 2026.
Full and fair disclosure. I lost my wife of 40+ years to breast cancer on Christmas 2021. She was a nurse educator, mother and grandmother and my best friend. So, yes, when it comes to cancer, I’ve got strong feelings. But I’m not alone. There are far too many Iowa families suffering such devastating loss. But what really saddens me is knowing so many of the seats around Iowa family dinner tables shouldn’t be empty today. You know, we’ve heard it all before. Iowa suffers the second highest cancer rate in the nation. And, while cancer rates nationally are declining, Iowa's are increasing, sharply. But why? Science confirms that common cancers -- breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, and skin melanoma – are associated with environmental risk factors, such as pesticides, nitrates, PFAS and radon.
Quick review. We know that Iowa has one of the highest pesticide application rates in the nation. Research tells us that pesticides, including herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and rodenticides, remain active in the environment for decades. And, we know that nitrate loads from these chemicals have grown dramatically in Iowa’s water increasing the risk of colorectal, ovarian, bladder, thyroid and prostate cancers. We also know the connection between radon and lung cancer. And due to its unique geology, Iowans suffer from the highest indoor radon levels in the U.S. We also have compelling evidence that links PFAS, so called “forever chemicals,” to kidney, testicular, prostate and ovarian cancers and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. And, sadly, PFAS have been detected in 94% of Iowa’s surface waters.
Bottom line, we’ve researched, measured, counted, weighed, dissected, analyzed and studied the ties between environmental degradation and growing cancer rates enough. We just haven’t done enough about it. It’s time we sharpen our focus and take a lesson from business. First, let’s set a goal. What if we dedicate ourselves to reverse the current rate of cancer growth by 2040. Then, resolve to match the declining national rates by 2050 and exceed them by 2060. Ambitious? You bet. But whatever goal we choose, commit. What better legacy to leave our grandchildren? Think of this as our Operation Warp Speed.
Then let’s align our fiscal policy with our public health priority and create a leadership structure to oversee a strategy and stand accountable for success. Let’s create the state with the lowest cancer risk in the nation. By the way, it’s not a three-month project. We’ll need the state’s legislature’s on-going engagement, supervision and “interim” session attention. We’ve got to be done with vague, campaign-season promises to “Fight Cancer!” How? When? Where?
We then need to segment the population and devise multi-layered plans. Let’s focus on those at-risk, involuntarily. For instance, we can increase water quality monitoring and reduce nitrate loads. We can identify and remediate radon exposure. We know how. Next, let’s encourage behaviors that reduce voluntary exposures, such as school based education, increased tobacco taxes, eliminating PFAS based food packaging and bags. We also need to address the need of early screening and diagnosis in order to mitigate the harm from past exposure. Ensure mandatory insurance coverage for routine mammography, chest x-rays, prostate-specific antigen check-ups and other tests that can prevent an inconvenience developing into a terminal diagnosis. And, finally, we need to make 21st century cancer-fighting innovation, such as “next generation sequencing” and other individual DNA-based treatments more accessible and more affordable to those facing advanced cancer progression.
Sound expensive? Disruptive? No doubt. Vision usually is. But, so is the meaningless loss of life we tolerate now. The choice is clear. We can live with the problem or say: “enough.” Maybe this will be our finest hour?