For cancer survivor Mandy Scott, a breast cancer diagnosis came as a shock.
“I felt great. I was very physically active and, you know, I eat right. I exercise a lot, and I was only 45, which is pretty young,” Scott said. “It was just quite a shock to me.”
Scott discovered something was wrong after feeling a lump while standing in her kitchen.
“I made an emergency appointment with my gynecologist, who started the process of investigating the whole thing,” Scott said. “But it was really pretty scary.”
Her treatment included six rounds of chemotherapy followed by a double mastectomy. Losing her hair during treatment was one of the most difficult parts of the experience.
“It’s really emotionally devastating, I have to say, and that really is the hardest part. It was the hardest part for me,” Scott said.
Scott now encourages others to stay current with cancer screenings.
“I didn’t notice a thing in terms of the way I felt. If I hadn’t felt a lump, I would have never known that something was wrong with me,” Scott said.
Cancer trends in Mississippi
Health officials say cases like Scott’s reflect broader concerns about cancer trends across the state.
The American Cancer Society estimates about 18,000 new cancer cases will be diagnosed in Mississippi this year. The most common types include prostate, lung and bronchus, and breast cancers.
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Cancer death rates in Mississippi remain higher than the national average. According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, the state sees about 180 cancer deaths each year for every 100,000 residents, compared to about 146 nationally.
In Forrest County, the National Cancer Institute estimates about 414 people are diagnosed with cancer each year.
Sudheer Koutha, an epidemiologist with the Mississippi State Department of Health, said overall cancer rates have declined since the 1980s, but trends among younger adults are rising.
“In the past 10 to 14 years, the cancer trend among individuals younger than 50 is increasing,” Koutha said.
Access to care remains a challenge
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in Mississippi, and health leaders say access to care remains a major barrier, especially in rural communities.
According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, colorectal cancer is increasing seven times faster among people younger than 50.
Mississippi also ranks third in the nation for cancer deaths and has the highest breast cancer mortality rate, with about 23 deaths per 100,000 people.
Koutha said rural residents are at higher risk since they often face limited access to health education, screening locations and other resources.
“The fact that the state is predominantly rural and people in rural areas have limited access to health education or healthy lifestyles and also less access to care,” Koutha said.
Prevention and support
Health officials say prevention and early detection remain the most effective ways to reduce cancer deaths.
Routine screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies can detect cancer earlier, when treatment is often more effective. Colorectal cancer screenings are typically covered by insurance beginning at age 45, Kouthasaid.
Health officials also note that cancer can run in families due to shared genetics, habits and environmental factors. People with a family history of cancer may need earlier or more frequent screenings, often beginning in their 40s.
Doctors also encourage healthy habits such as avoiding tobacco, staying physically active and keeping up with recommended vaccinations.
Officials say about 9 out of 10 lung cancer cases in Mississippi are linked to tobacco use.
Programs working to raise awareness
Programs across Mississippi are working to improve awareness and access to prevention services.
The Mississippi Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, a CDC-funded initiative, conducts cancer awareness campaigns across the state focused on lung, colorectal, breast, cervical and prostate cancers.
The program also distributes fruits and vegetables in high-risk counties to promote healthier diets.
“We conducted several workshops, and also one of the program strategies is to distribute some fruits and vegetables across the high-risk counties in Mississippi,” Koutha said.
The program also operates a helpline — 601-206-1559 — that connects residents with health resources and prevention programs.
Community support for treatment
Health leaders say transportation remains one of the biggest barriers to cancer care in rural areas.
Shannon Vega, director of the Forrest General Cancer Center, said community programs help patients travel to appointments and treatment.
“One of our biggest barriers to care for cancer is transportation needs,” Vega said. “Every year we have a Fuel to Fight fundraiser to help raise money to get people here to get their treatments.”
The annual fundraiser, schedule for Oct. 17, raises money to help cancer patients travel to appointments and receive care.
Health officials say improving education, screenings and access to care will be key to reducing cancer rates across Mississippi.
This report was produced by the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center at the University of Southern Mississippi.