Is Idaho a Good State for Cancer Research?

Cancer is a nasty disease that we can all agree should go away. It is rare to find something that everyone in the world can agree on, but cancer going to hell is one of them. Odds are high that someone you know has been affected by this disease. Perhaps they were lucky enough to defeat it, but odds are likely you know someone who has also lost that battle, or know someone who knows someone. We have all been hit by it one way or another. The type of doctors, treatment, and research being done to defeat cancer affect the odds of survival. When it comes to battling cancer, is Idaho a good state for research, or does the Gem State have some work to do to catch up to other states?

The Best and Worst States For Cancer Research

If you get diagnosed with cancer, or one of your loved ones does, you want them to have the best care possible. Some people are willing to travel to get this care, and others aren't that fortunate. Recently, SmileHub released a study of the best and worst states when it comes to cancer research. They ranked them using categories such as research funding and resources, research output and impact, and healthcare infrastructure and support. Using these criteria, it was determined that Massachusetts is the best state for cancer research, with New York being second, and California being third. The worst state is Mississippi, with Kentucky being the second worst, and Arkansas rounding out the bottom three. Where does Idaho fall on this list?

Is Idaho a Good or Bad State for Cancer Research?

According to the study, Idaho is not an ideal state to live in if battling cancer. The Gem State ranks as the tenth worst state in cancer research, coming in at 41 out of 50 states. Idaho is fifth worst in research funding and resources, is 27th in research output and impact, and is ninth worst in healthcare infrastructure and support. For those who are battling cancer, this is not great news. Depending on what stage you are in, or your loved one is in, it might be best to look at another state for treatment options, as they have done more research and have more resources. California would be a good option, but if that is too far, Colorado ranks fifth, and Oregon ranks seventh. 

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To see the full study, make sure to click the link in the second paragraph above. If you or someone you know is battling cancer, this doesn't mean you have to move to survive, but it is best to have all the information you can to make that choice.