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Wilmot Cancer Institute / Wilmot Community Engagement / Region We Serve

 

Region We Serve

Wilmot focuses its cancer care, research, and education efforts in a 27-county area of Western and Central New York that includes more than 3 million people in the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Central, and Mohawk Valley regions. Of the 27 counties, 26 have a higher poverty level than the U.S. average. Rates of cancer in this catchment area are significantly higher than for the U.S. as a whole.

Specifically, the cancer burden in this region disproportionately affects:

  • Urban Black and Latino communities
  • Rural communities with aging populations

In addition, this area is home to groups that face unique disparities in cancer prevention and care:

  • The largest deaf and hard-of-hearing population per capita in the U.S.
  • The nation’s fifth largest Amish/Mennonite population
  • A significant sexual and gender minority community

Among other indices of disparity, individuals in the communities we serve experience:

  • Longer delays between diagnosis and beginning cancer treatment
  • Higher rates of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity
  • Lower rates of mammography

Cancer InFocus

Cancer InFocus, developed by the Community Impact Office at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, is a platform aimed at facilitating the understanding of cancer burden. It gathers and filters data from various publicly available sources such as the US Census Bureau and CDC Places. This data is then integrated into the Cancer InFocus Shiny application to create interactive mapping applications. These applications provide a wide scope of cancer burden and health determinants data on incidence, mortality, sociodemographic, economic and insurance, environment, housing and transportation, disparities, and screening and risk factors.

Click here to open the Cancer InFocus map with a larger view.

*Disclaimer* These maps and data sources are available only to help us form new questions and guide our thinking. They cannot show that any one factor causes cancer or that any one area is exposed to more cancer risk.  For questions, contact the COE office at WilmotCOE@urmc.rochester.edu

CANVAS Data Maps

Cancer Visual Analytic System (CANVAS) is web-based Geospatial Analysis tool designed to amalgamate internal patient data with external data sources. CANVAS offers the capacity to juxtapose multiple maps side by side for comprehensive and detailed comparisons that can inform research , as well as help guide strategic efforts of Wilmot and other community-based groups.

We’re working to better understand community needs, including through the use of quantitative data. Available through our Cancer Visual Analytic System (CANVAS) web-based tool, these real-time data maps are also available to guide the efforts of other community-based groups. Did you know we can help you with data requests? This option is open to anyone in our 27-county catchment area. For more information, complete this form and a staff member will reach out to you.