When it comes to health issues, the southeastern corner of Virginia usually is pretty average. That’s why I was surprised to discover a report that showed a city in my readership area has the highest cancer mortality rate in the state.

High cancer mortality rates in Portsmouth, Va., might be linked to a variety of factors related to race, socioeconomics, culture and possibly even biology.

In Portsmouth, Va., where people die of cancer at the highest rate in the state, recent surveys indicate that residents are pretty good about getting screenings for colorectal cancer. They're also among the best in the state for getting mammograms, despite having only two places to go in the city.