Fresh county-level cancer data have put Clark and Champaign counties on the wrong side of the colorectal cancer leaderboard, with higher case rates than both Ohio and the nation. That unwelcome ranking has Mercy Health - Springfield renewing its push to get residents screened. Hospital leaders say routine tests can detect precancerous growths or early cancers, when treatment is most likely to succeed. The reminder arrives in March, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and comes as national reports highlight shifting age patterns in who gets the disease.
Data compiled by the National Cancer Institute’s State Cancer Profiles show Clark County’s age-adjusted colorectal cancer incidence at 39.9 cases per 100,000 residents and Champaign County’s at 41.4 per 100,000 for 2018–2022. Both sit above Ohio’s 38.4 and the U.S. rate of 36.7, according to State Cancer Profiles. Those numbers, along with Mercy Health’s latest call for screening, were reported locally by the Springfield News-Sun.
Why screening matters
National research shows that colorectal cancer incidence and deaths are declining in older adults but climbing among younger people, and on-time screening is still considered the most effective way to prevent the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. The AACR reports that the median age at diagnosis in the United States is 66 and that about 77% of new cases are found in people 55 and older. On the global stage, the World Health Organization lists colorectal cancer among the most common and deadliest cancers, underscoring how critical prevention and early detection are worldwide.
Local hospitals urging action
Lisa Gibson, director of oncology services at Mercy Health - Springfield, told the Springfield News-Sun that “colorectal cancer is often preventable with appropriate screening,” urging residents to get exams on the books. Mercy Health says its oncology and gastroenterology teams coordinate to offer preventive screenings, diagnostic workups, and treatment for patients in Clark and Champaign counties.
Where to get screened locally
Screening options include colonoscopy and stool-based tests. A colonoscopy can both find and remove precancerous polyps, which can prevent cancer from developing, according to the American Cancer Society. Mercy Health - Springfield offers open-access colonoscopy referrals and expanded gastroenterology services to make getting screened easier for patients, according to the hospital’s announcement. More details are available from Mercy Health. People 45 and older, along with anyone at higher risk, are advised to talk with their health care provider about which test is best for them and to follow up promptly on any abnormal results.
The county-level figures are a pointed reminder that access to screening and healthy lifestyle choices matter just as much locally as they do nationally. Residents who want to dig into the underlying numbers can review the raw incidence tables for Ohio counties on State Cancer Profiles.
