Blog

2025: A Year in Review

As we close out 2025, we celebrate the resilience and dedication that defined this year. Our collective work in cancer prevention and control continues to save lives and strengthen communities. And these experiences serve as a powerful reminder of how critical state-level collaboration and advocacy are to sustain progress against cancer.    Highlights & Achievements …

New Self-Collection HPV Screening Options

Written by: Alexa Stallings, Academic Research Assistant in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health at the University of Iowa College of Public Health Screening for cervical cancer is now easier than ever. Traditionally, cervical cancer screening options have included a Pap smear or a clinician-collected Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) test. However, two new self-collection…

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) is working to increase awareness among Iowans of the risk factors for lung cancer and provide information about lung cancer screening. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in Iowa. Iowa ranks 14th in the nation…

News Release: Iowans Honored for Cancer Control Efforts at the 2025 Iowa Cancer Summit

Coralville, IA – November 4, 2025 – Several individuals were honored last month at the Iowa Cancer Summit for their contributions to cancer control in Iowa. The Des Moines Firefighters Local 4 received the Iowa Cancer Champion Award, which is given annually to an individual or organization that has demonstrated a commitment to reducing the burden of…

Losing Medicaid? Here’s What You Need to Know.

By Cynthia Fiester, MSN, RN Chronic Disease Services Coordinator, Linn County Public Health  Losing health insurance can be stressful and confusing, whether it’s Medicaid, employer-based coverage, or a marketplace plan. If you or someone you care about will soon lose or has recently lost health insurance, don’t worry, you’re not alone, and help is available.  …

New Statewide Initiative Aims to Uncover What’s Driving Cancer in Iowa

In response to rising cancer rates across the state, Iowa leaders have launched an initiative to better understand and address the factors contributing to cancer in Iowa. The project, known as Cancer Drivers in Iowa, is a collaborative effort between Iowa Health and Human Services and the University of Iowa College of Public Health, established…

Letting go of the status quo: A quick organizational update

Dear members and partners, Years ago, our staff co-created what we refer to as our Rules of Engagement. These “rules” guide us to work together in our most authentic, open, and people-centered way. We check in with our rules of engagement regularly and update them as needed. One rule that has not changed across all…

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: Charlie’s Story  

Written by: Natalie Steuer, Childhood Cancer Awareness Advocate   September usually brings cozy, familiar rhythms – kids back in school, cooler evening air drifting in through open windows, and the first hints of autumn. But for thousands of families across the nation, September carries a deeper meaning. It is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time…

Funding Renewal for Iowa Cancer Consortium Fuels Local Cancer Survivorship and Prevention Work

CORALVILLE, IA – August 14, 2025 – The Iowa Cancer Consortium announced the recipients of over $200,000 in grant funding through its FY26 Iowa Cancer Plan Implementation Grant and FY26 Cancer Survivorship Grant. Nine organizations across the state were awarded up to $25,000 each for their projects that run through May 31, 2026, with topics…

Bringing Cancer Data Home: The 99 Counties Project

Did you know Iowa has the second-highest rate of new cancer cases in the country? That’s a tough reality—but it’s one we can face by working together, community by community. That’s where the Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project comes in. Launched by the Iowa Cancer Registry, this initiative makes sure every county in Iowa…