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Americans are neglecting cancer diagnoses
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Scientists note that over the past ten years, the number of people undergoing screening for various cancers has significantly decreased.
The results of the scientists’ research were published on December 27 in the scientific journal Frontiers in Cancer Epidemiology.
Despite the fact that diagnostic methods and procedures for early detection of malignant tumors are improving and developing every year, cancer remains one of the most dangerous diseases. Last year alone, cancer diseases took the lives of more than 570,000 people in the United States.
“There is a huge need to scale up cancer prevention efforts to stop the disease taking hold, particularly screening, which is one of the most important preventative measures that can significantly reduce the number of cancer victims,” says Tanya Clark, a research fellow in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health and one of the study’s authors. “But despite this, our research shows that overall cancer screening rates have fallen, which can have serious health consequences.”
Dr. Clark and his team assessed public attitudes toward screening procedures that are aimed at early detection of malignant tumors, and also analyzed the number of people who, thanks to early detection of the tumor, were able to overcome the disease and stay alive.
The study results show that the general public does not follow government guidelines for cancer screening. Only about 54% of adults have been screened and diagnosed for colorectal cancer.
Among those who have successfully overcome the disease but are in a high-risk group, higher rates are observed, but even here there has been a slight decline in the number of people undergoing regular check-ups. Over the past ten years, this number has dropped to 78%.
According to scientists' forecasts, the number of patients with colorectal cancer, which is a common pathology in the world, will increase significantly in the next two decades. Experts attribute this to population growth and aging in general, both in developing and developed countries.
The annual incidence of colorectal cancer reaches one million cases, and the annual death rate exceeds 500,000.
In the ranking of mortality from malignant neoplasms among men and women, colorectal cancer is in second place.
Dr Clarke hopes that a more comprehensive study planned for the near future will be able to provide a more complete assessment of why many people are so careless about early cancer screening. The results of the study, the researchers say, should help educate the public about the need for regular cancer screening.
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