Print This Post

Decrease in Cancer Deaths, But Some Patients Not Screened for Colorectal Cancer

The American Cancer Society reports a decrease in cancer deaths between 2004 and 2005. Deaths from cancer of the colon and rectum decreased from 2004 to 1998 for both men and women. Most of this is attributed to early detection. With early detection of colorectal cancer, patients have a survival rate of more than 90 percent.
While ironically colorectal cancer deaths are down, the facts are that racial minorities, uninsured Americans and even Medicare patients who should be tested are not being screening appropriately, and other recent studies reveal that they are diagnosed with more advanced cancers compared to patients with private insurance.
According to a report published in the American Cancer Society journal CANCER in January 2008, only 25 percent of 150,000 Medicare patients received recommended screenings for colorectal cancer since Medicare started to cover preventive screening tests.
Another study by Halpern et al. published in The Lancet Oncology on February 18, 2008 found a link between insurance status and stage of cancer diagnosis. According to the study, uninsured patients were two to three times more likely to be diagnosed at late stages (Stage III or State IV) than at Stage I.
Physicians from the American College of Gastroenterology issued new recommendations to healthcare providers to begin colorectal cancer screening in African-Americans at age 45 rather than 50. African-Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer at a younger age than other ethnic groups, and African-Americans with colorectal cancer have decreased survival compared with other ethnic groups. These recommendations were published in the March 2005 issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Source: American College of Gastroenterology

• OTC Pediatric Cold Remedies Not Safe, Not Effective For Kids Under 4
• NYC Subways Join the Battle of the Bulge
• Crohn’s Patients Gain Quality of Life with New Treatment Plan
• Consumer Reports Rates Nutrition Value of Kids’ Cereals
• Sex Triggers Stroke for Woman, 35
• FTC Says Bogus Cancer Cures Just More Snake Oil
• Easy Ways to Make Kids’ Breakfasts Nutritious, Delicious