Disparities in Advanced Stage Colorectal Cancer Outcomes in Appalachia: A Comprehensive Review

The Appalachian region consists of over 26 million Americans, of whom almost 2.5 million live in rural areas. Various social determinants of health including but not limited to rural living conditions and geographic isolation, food insecurity, and low income contribute to disparate health outcomes compared to the rest of the country. Obesity, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and chronic heart diseases are all more prevalent in Appalachia. These comorbidities, combined with the aforementioned social vulnerabilities, place the Appalachian population at increased risk of higher cancer incidence and poorer outcomes. Lung, cervical, breast, penile, prostate, colorectal, and head and neck cancers are all shown to have higher rates and poorer outcomes within Appalachia relative to the country. Advanced staged colorectal cancer patients are a unique population that may be even further impacted by the social inequities in Appalachia, given the resource-intensive and multi-disciplinary approach required for effective treatment. Unfortunately, there is a dire lack of investigation into the incidence and outcomes of advanced stage colorectal cancer in Appalachian residents. This review summarizes the existing literature on disparate cancer outcomes in the Appalachian population, with a focus on advanced stage colorectal cancer. We also propose various approaches that could decrease malignancy rates and improve outcomes, such as dietary adjustments, screening tools, and public educational endeavors. We also acknowledge the role high-volume centers can play in working towards accessible care and the potential for collaborations between large institutions within Appalachian regions to spur the change that is greatly needed.