Pennsylvania’s most recent data on colorectal cancer indicates there is much work to do to lower incidence rates. Our state remains among the highest with late-stage colon cancer diagnosed in both men (50.9-53.2 percent) and women (51.4-52.5 percent).
According to a recent report from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), half of colorectal and cervical cancers and one third of breast cancers are diagnosed at late stage when treatment is not as effective.
“When colorectal cancers are detected early, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent,” said Enrique Hernandez, MD, 2009 president of the American Cancer Society (ACS), Pennsylvania Division, and a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) Board of Trustees. “But only 39 percent of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at this stage, primarily due to low screening rates.”
In 2009, the PAMED partnered with the ACS to encourage Pennsylvanians to get cancer screenings and to promote the resources available from the ACS.
One way physicians can continue to impact screening rates is by using electronic medical records to identify those patients who need screening and sending reminders.
Read the full report from the CDC on population-based screening for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer.