Falling Trend in the Epidemiology of Gastric Cancer in Mississippi From 2003 to 2019: What Mississippi Got Right

Background: The aim of this study is to give insight into the falling trend in gastric cancer epidemiology in the state of Mississippi. The period in focus is between 2003 and 2019. The aim of this study is to uncover what the state got right and the implications for future healthcare. Methodology: The data for this study was collected from the Mississippi state cancer registry. The geographic locations in focus are the state’s cancer coalition regions. The data is presented in tables and graphs, with descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Results: An assessment of the respective cancer coalition regions reveals a notable decline in gastric cancer incidence rates between 2003 and 2009. The areas where the state got right were found to include evaluation and surveillance, environmental, systems, and policy changes, treatment, survivorship, early detection, and prevention. Conclusion: Given that the state is predominantly rural, it is recommended that additional innovative approaches are explored and implemented, including telemedicine implementation to foster real-time services regarding community health education and dissemination or messaging about actions such as gastric cancer screening and the needed environmental changes such as nutrition guideline adherence.