York and Adams counties are part of a cancer cluster in South-Central Pennsylvania where adults over 50 face a significantly higher risk of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, according to a Penn State-led study published this week.
Researchers at the Penn State Cancer Institute analyzed five years of cancer registry data (2017–2021) and found that residents in a 15-county stretch of the state — including York and Adams — were 57% more likely to develop melanoma than people living elsewhere in Pennsylvania. The findings were released in the journal JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics, according to a news release.
The cluster spans both rural and metropolitan areas, suggesting the risk isn’t limited to farmers or those who spend long hours outdoors. Instead, the study points to environmental factors tied to agriculture, according to the release…