A study co-authored by Dr. Hari Iyer and colleagues, published in Cancer Medicine, finds that climate-related natural disasters may be associated with increased mortality among men with metastatic prostate cancer.
As climate change increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events—including hurricanes, floods, fires, and severe storms—there is growing concern about how disruptions to healthcare systems may affect patients with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the U.S., requires ongoing monitoring and timely access to complex, resource-intensive care.
Using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry and FEMA’s Disaster Declarations database, the research team evaluated county-level mortality trends among men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. The analysis included 222 counties across 11 states that experienced a single climate-related natural disaster between 2012 and 2018, with mortality compared during the two years before and after each disaster.
The study found that mortality from metastatic prostate cancer was 15% higher one year after a disaster and 28% higher two years after. In counties experiencing more severe “major” disasters, increases were even greater. Notably, this pattern was not observed in counties without disasters during the same period.
While the study does not establish causation, the findings indicate that disruptions to healthcare access, treatment delays, and system-level interruptions following extreme weather events may impact cancer outcomes. The findings underscore the need to strengthen health system resilience and ensure continuity of cancer care during and after extreme weather events. As climate change continues to reshape environmental and health landscapes, developing climate-resilient cancer care systems will be critical to protecting vulnerable patient populations.
The Iyer Lab remains committed to advancing research at the intersection of environmental change, healthcare systems, and cancer outcomes.
Read the full paper here.