Monona County Cancer Presentation and Community Discussion set for October 8

Published 4:43 pm Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Monona County residents are invited to learn more about cancer trends in their community and join an important conversation about cancer prevention, concerns and resources during the Monona County Cancer Presentation and Discussion on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
Representatives from the Iowa Cancer Registry will share the latest cancer data specific to Monona County as part of the Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project, a statewide public health initiative focused on increasing cancer education and community engagement across all 99 Iowa counties.
Presenters will include Mary Charlton, PhD, professor in the University of Iowa Department of Epidemiology and director of the Iowa Cancer Registry, and Audrey Gronemeyer, MPH, research specialist with the Iowa Cancer Registry.
Iowa currently has the second-highest rate of new cancer diagnoses in the United States. The 99 Counties Project gives communities an opportunity to better understand what cancer looks like locally while allowing residents to share questions, concerns and suggestions directly with cancer experts.
Cancer in Monona County
According to Iowa Cancer Registry data, the five most commonly diagnosed cancers in Monona County are:
Prostate cancer — 171.7 cases per 100,000. The age-adjusted incidence rate is statistically similar to Iowa’s rate of 133.4 but statistically higher than the national rate of 119.9.
Female breast cancer — 115.2 cases per 100,000, statistically similar to both Iowa and national rates.
Lung cancer — 74.5 cases per 100,000. The rate is statistically similar to Iowa’s rate of 59.6 but statistically higher than the national rate of 51.8.
Colorectal cancer — 45.4 cases per 100,000, statistically similar to both Iowa and national rates.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma — 30.4 cases per 100,000, statistically similar to both Iowa and national rates.
During the October 8 presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to hear more about these findings, learn about cancer prevention and available resources, and provide input about cancer-related concerns within Monona County.
The Iowa Cancer Plan identifies several strategies that can help reduce Iowa’s cancer burden, including tobacco prevention and smoking cessation, radon mitigation, sun protection and skin cancer prevention, reducing excessive alcohol consumption, and increasing access to nutritious foods and opportunities for physical activity.
Additional information and resources from the Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project are available at www.iowacancerregistry.org/99. Presentation slides will also be made available online following the meeting.
Questions about the 99 Counties Project may be directed to icr-99countiesproject@uiowa.edu.
Media representatives seeking additional information or an interview with the Iowa Cancer Registry may contact ICR-Media@uiowa.edu.