A recent study has found that several communities in the U.P. have a much higher rate of colorectal cancer than the average. According to TheMiningJournal, Gogebic, Alger and Baraga counties show the highest rate in the state as show by the study published in the journal Cancer Causes and Control. Residents in three agricultural counties in the Thumb are on the list of high incidence, Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties. The lowest incidence in the state for a four year time period from 2016-2020 was in Houghton, Ontonagon, Emmet, Mason and Ottawa. The study’s lead author says more research is needed, including examination of environmental factors and differences in treatment.