Strategies to meet the needs of the rural poor

Demographic, geographic, and economic forces have influenced the treatment and supportive care of patients with cancer and their families who reside in rural areas. The trends that limit access to cancer care include an aging population, lower income, less comprehensive insurance coverage, ill-equipped and poorly staffed health care facilities, and geographic isolation from health care services. It is important to develop strategies that can be used to overcome the barriers to rural cancer care.