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Women, Latinos Not Getting Colon Cancer Tests
12/20/04
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A survey of older
Californians shows that many -- especially women and Latinos -- are not being
screened for colorectal cancer as they should be.
People are often unaware of the importance of colon
cancer screening, researchers report in the medical journal Cancer.
Overall, investigator Dr. Ninez A.
Ponce told Reuters Health, "Colorectal cancer test use is disappointingly low --
54 percent -- and is especially low among women and Latinos."
Ponce, of the University of
California at Los Angeles Center for Policy Research, and colleagues note that
when colorectal cancer is detected early, 90 percent of patients survive at
least five years. When the disease is advanced, only 9 percent survive that
long.
Using data from the 2001
California Health Interview Survey, the researchers identified responses from
22,343 people aged 50 years or more -- the recommended age to begin screening
for colorectal cancer for most people.
Less than 54 percent reported
having recently had a colorectal cancer test, and Latinos under the age of 66
years were less likely than whites to be tested.
Men were more likely than women
to be tested. Women were more likely than men to say that their doctors did not
tell them about the test, and that colorectal cancer tests "were painful or
embarrassing."
"Most importantly," added Ponce,
"we found that having both insurance coverage and a regular source of care was
the most powerful predictor of whether an individual received a colorectal
cancer test."
He added, "Consumers need to know
that the colorectal cancer tests are prevention measures and can save lives.
Doctors need to be knowledgeable about clinical guidelines, and be mindful of
cancer screening schedules for their patients."
SOURCE: Cancer, December 1,
2004.
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