Many U.S. adults aren’t getting recommended screening for several cancers, according to new data.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that in 2013 screening for breast, cervical and colon cancers either fell behind previous rates or showed no improvement.
The agency found that among adults that really need to get screened, one in five women don’t get it for cervical cancer, 1 in 4 for breast cancer and about 2 in five for colon cancer.
Colon cancer testing rates were essentially unchanged in 2013 compared to 2010.
In addition the rate of women age 21-65 getting the Pap smear test was lower in 2013 compared to 2000, and the number of mammography screenings was stagnant, CDC said.
Officials were dismayed by the study’s results, especially the stall in colon cancer screening rates.
“We must find new ways to make providers aware that getting tested for colorectal cancer could prevent cancer and save lives,” said Lisa Richardson, director of CDC’s cancer division, in a statement.
The data was gleaned from the National Health Interview Survey of 2013.
