CDC: Breast, Cervical, Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates Are Below Target

Screening for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers is below national targets despite being associated with reduced mortality from these cancers, according to the results of a recent study.

The researchers utilized data from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey to determine the rate of women in the United States who were up to date with screenings. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force screening recommendations were used to determine an up-to-date status.

The results indicated that there was little change from 2005 in the rates for breast and cervical cancers. Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening has increased, though still fell below the Healthy People 2020 targets:

• 72.4% of women aged 50 to 74 years were up to date with mammography, below the 81.1% target
• 82.9% of women aged 21 to 65 years were up to date with cervical cancer screening, below the 93% target
• 66.9% of women aged 50 to 75 years were up to date with CRC testing, below but near the 70.5% target

Lower test receipt for each screening varied by education, age, ethnicity/race, income, sexual orientation, duration of U.S. residence, source of care, and insurance.

“To promote screening for these three cancers, the Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends evidence-based interventions that increase client demand for, access to, and provider delivery of screening services,” the researchers concluded. “The Task Force noted that evidence-based interventions can be selected and adapted to meet the needs of communities and specific populations and can be combined to address multiple barriers, potentially at multiple levels.”

—Leigh Precopio

Reference:

Sabatino SA, Thompson TD, White MC, et al. Cancer screening test receipt – United States, 2018. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70(2):29-35. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7002a1