Cancer Screening Numbers Are Up, But More Are Needed

The Center for Disease Control reports that the number of colorectal screening tests has increased over the past couple of years, but more people still need the tests. The CDC estimates 32,000 lives could be saved if the 22 million people who have not had colorectal screening got them. Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the United States behind lung cancer. In 2006, just 52 percent of people between 50 and 75 had some type of colorectal screening. In 2008, that number increased to 68 percent. Increasing the rate of colorectal cancer screenings by 10 percent could equate to another 1,900 lives saved.

Breast cancer screening has reached a plateau. 81.5 percent of women between the ages of 50 and 75 had a mammogram during 2006. In 2008, that number maintained at 81.1 percent. The CDC estimates 12,000 lives have been saved as a result of breast cancer screening. Increasing the rate of breast cancer screenings by 5 percent could save an additional 560 lives. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women. This year 40,000 women are expected to lose their lives to breast cancer and another 209,000 will learn they have the disease.

Many of the uninsured and low income people are unable to afford or get access to these life saving tools. Only 36 percent of uninsured people have had colorectal cancer screening tests.  In 2006, there were more than 139,000 new cases of colorectal cancer reported. That same year, more than 53,000 people died from the disease.