Nearly One-Third of Target Population Unscreened for Colon Cancer

Nearly one-third of people age 50 and older have never been screened for colon cancer and 28 percent said their healthcare provider had not recommended them for screening, according to a release by the Colon Cancer Alliance.

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A poll by the alliance and Quest Diagnostics of this age group, the target population for colonoscopies and other colon cancer screening tests, identified the following reasons for not seeking a screening:

  • 18 percent: time constraints.
  • 16 percent: fear.
  • 16 percent: not aware they needed to be screened.
  • 15 percent: couldn’t afford the out-of-pocket payment.
  • 10 percent: no insurance.
  • 9 percent: embarrassment.

 

Among those who cited fear, 61 percent cited fear of unpleasant bowel preparation, 36 percent cited fear of test results, 35 percent cited side effects, 28 percent cited fear of medical tests and 17 percent cited fear of being sedated.

 

Read the Colon Cancer Alliance release on colonoscopies.

http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=4645821&access=EH

 

Related Articles on Colonscopies:

10 Recent Findings on Colonoscopies

Study: 42% of Polyps Missed in Colonoscopies With Poor Bowel Preps

Studies Back Screening Colonoscopy for Unscreened Elderly Patients

 

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