Counties With the Highest Cancer Rates in Montana

I had a "reality setting in" moment the other day. I'll celebrate my 40th birthday this year which means, among other things, that I'm now at the age when it is recommended I schedule mammograms, according to my doctor.

Preventative medicine is so important, but getting tests can still be unnerving.

February is National Cancer Prevention Month, so consider this a little PSA to take care of yourself. The American Association of Cancer Research says, "The federal government estimates that nearly 2 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) during 2023, and that more than 600,000 died from the disease."

Cancer-related deaths is the number two leading cause of death for Montanans according to the CDC. With cancer being a top leading cause of death, take a look at where cancer rates are highest across Montana.

A Map of Cancer Rates Across Montana

CDC.gov

Looking at the map, there doesn't seem to be any discernible pattern. But as you look at the top 10 counties for rates of cancer, you may see a pattern emerge.

Montana's Top 10 Counties for the Rate of Cancer Per 100,000 people

Canva, CDC Data: All Types of Cancer, All Ages, All Race and Ethnicities, Mall and Female, 2016-2020 Rate per 100,000

When looking at the population counts for these counties, only one county in the top 10 has more than 50,000 people.

Sometimes, it's easier to think about this kind of information in terms of city, so here's a quick refresher on the county seat of the counties listed above:

Treasure County - Hysham, Montana
Golden Valley County - Ryegate, Montana
Musselshell County - Roundup, Montana
Prairie County - Terry, Montana
Rosebud County - Forsyth, Montana
Broadwater County - Townsend, Montana
Powell County - Deer Lodge, Montana
Yellowstone County - Billings, Montana
Fallon County - Baker, Montana
Wheatland County - Harlowton, Montana

Except for Billings, many of those towns are small. It's a bit surprising to see the highest rates of cancer in some of Montana's least-populated cities. I would have thought the rates would have been higher in counties with bigger cities.

Stay safe, stay healthy, Montana.

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