Change the Odds: Cancer’s Impact on Rural America

While there have been a number of landmark advances in cancer care in recent decades, an alarming truth remains: where you live can impact your chances of survival.

Unfortunately, the odds of surviving a cancer diagnosis are lower in rural areas of the United States compared to urban areas. People who live in rural areas face significant barriers to accessing cancer screening and quality care. These include the lack of healthcare providers in rural communities, long travel distances to screening facilities, and rural hospital closures.

Those who live in rural areas are also underrepresented in cancer clinical trials, as they often experience transportation challenges and other barriers to clinical trial participation.

A personal connection for Patrick Dempsey

These disparities are something award-winning actor and cancer community advocate Patrick Dempsey knows firsthand, having grown up in a small town in Maine. Dempsey became a cancer care advocate after supporting his mother through her 17-year journey with ovarian cancer.

His family’s experience with cancer in a rural setting led him to become a voice for change, working to ensure more people have access to cancer screening and care.

“I’ve seen the positive impact that timely care and support can have on someone’s cancer journey,” Dempsey said. “But the fact is, too many people are getting left behind, especially those living in areas where healthcare resources are limited. They’re struggling just to get information about cancer and to get screened.”

Working to Change the Odds

To help address these disparities, Dempsey is lending his voice to Change the Odds: Uniting to Improve Cancer Outcomes™, an American Cancer Society initiative supported by funding from Pfizer. Change the Odds aims to address disparities and improve health outcomes in underserved communities across the U.S., including rural areas.

Pfizer’s support of Change the Odds led to their recognition as the American Cancer Society’s Corporate Partner of the Year. Together through Change the Odds, Pfizer and ACS are workingto enhance awareness of and access to cancer screenings, clinical trial opportunities, patient support, and comprehensive navigation.

A conversation about cancer care barriers

As part of Pfizer’s support of Change the Odds, Dempsey is hosting a video series called Front Porch Conversations, speaking with people impacted by cancer from rural areas across the country, shedding light on their experiences and the barriers to care they have faced.

“The barriers to cancer screening and care can’t be overcome without talking about them,” Dempsey said on a recent episode of Front Porch Conversations. “The more we talk, the more we can change the odds.”

Learn more about how you can support this effort and help change the odds for rural communities.