Americans neglect cancer diagnosis
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Scientists note that over the past decade the number of people undergoing screening for various cancers has significantly decreased.
The results of the research of scientists published on December 27 in the pages of 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. Only in the last year of the disease, more than 570 000 people died in the United States.
"There is a great need to expand preventive methods of fighting cancer. Every effort should be made to prevent the disease from swallowing the person, especially in the case of screening, which is one of the most important preventive procedures that can significantly reduce the number of cancer victims, "said Tanya Clark, one of the authors of the study, a researcher at the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health . "But, despite this, our studies show that the total number of procedures for preliminary diagnosis of cancer, in general, decreased, and this can lead to serious health consequences."
Dr. Clark and the team of specialists assessed the society's attitude to screening procedures, which are aimed at timely detection of malignant tumors, and also analyzed the number of people who, thanks to timely detection of the tumor, were able to overcome the disease and stay alive.
The results of the study show that the general public does not follow the state guidelines for cancer screening. Only about 54% of adults were screened and diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Among those people who have successfully overcome the disease, but are in the high-risk group, there are higher rates, however, in this case there is a slight decrease in the number of people who regularly undergo the examination. Over the past ten years, this number has fallen to 78%.
According to the 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 its aging in general, both in developing and developed countries.
The annual incidence of colorectal cancer reaches one million cases, and the annual mortality rate exceeds 500,000.
In the rating of mortality from malignant neoplasms among men and women, colorectal cancer is in second place.
Dr. Clarke hopes that a more comprehensive study, which is planned to be carried out in the near future, will provide a more complete assessment of the reasons for the carefree attitude of many people towards the preliminary diagnosis of cancer. The results of this study, according to scientists, should help explain to society the need for regular screening for various cancers.
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