] Cancer and Climate: How Weather Affects Care in North Carolina

] Imagine living in North Carolina and dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Now, think about how extreme weather events can make healthcare tougher to access. This study looked into how climate affects cancer care in NC. The researchers used data from 2017 to 2021 to see how climate vulnerability and cancer rates are connected. The results showed a strong link between areas with high climate vulnerability and higher cancer mortality rates. Counties like Scotland, Robeson, and Halifax, which are pretty deprived, had the highest climate vulnerability scores and cancer death rates. On the other hand, the link between climate vulnerability and how many new cancer cases showed up was not as strong. This makes one wonder: how can we make healthcare better for cancer patients in areas hit hard by climate change? Future studies could look into specific weather problems and cancer outcomes to help improve cancer care and make it more resilient.