A study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found a considerable proportion of patients with advanced cancer continue to undergo cancer screening tests, which researchers say likely do not provide added benefit to the patients, according to the study's abstract.
Researchers assessed data on more than 87,000 Medicare patients who were diagnosed with advanced lung, colorectal, pancreatic, gastroesophageal or breast cancer between 1998 and 2005. Another group of more than 87,000 Medicare patients without cancer was studied as controls in the research. Cancer patients were followed up until death or December 2007 — whichever came first — to evaluate screening rates. Controls were also evaluated in the same time window.
Some of the key findings from the research include the following:
• Among patients with colorectal cancer, lower GI endoscopy was received by 1.7 percent of cancer patients verses 4.7 percent of control patients.
• Among women, at least one mammogram was received by 8.9 percent of advanced breast cancer patients versus 22 percent of controls.
• Among men, 15 percent of patients with prostate cancer received PSA testing verses 27.2 percent of controls.
• Screening was more frequent among patients with a recent history of screening, which researchers predict stems from habitual adherence to screening.
Read the JAMA abstract on the study "Cancer Screening Among Patients With Advanced Cancer."
Read other coverage about colorectal cancer:
- Endo-Knife With Water Jet Function Superior for Removing Colorectal Tumors
- DDW Studies Address Colorectal Cancer Screening by Ethnicity and Screening Strategy
- Recommendation of Colorectal Cancer Screening Impacts Adherence in Diverse Populations
Researchers assessed data on more than 87,000 Medicare patients who were diagnosed with advanced lung, colorectal, pancreatic, gastroesophageal or breast cancer between 1998 and 2005. Another group of more than 87,000 Medicare patients without cancer was studied as controls in the research. Cancer patients were followed up until death or December 2007 — whichever came first — to evaluate screening rates. Controls were also evaluated in the same time window.
Some of the key findings from the research include the following:
• Among patients with colorectal cancer, lower GI endoscopy was received by 1.7 percent of cancer patients verses 4.7 percent of control patients.
• Among women, at least one mammogram was received by 8.9 percent of advanced breast cancer patients versus 22 percent of controls.
• Among men, 15 percent of patients with prostate cancer received PSA testing verses 27.2 percent of controls.
• Screening was more frequent among patients with a recent history of screening, which researchers predict stems from habitual adherence to screening.
Read the JAMA abstract on the study "Cancer Screening Among Patients With Advanced Cancer."
Read other coverage about colorectal cancer:
- Endo-Knife With Water Jet Function Superior for Removing Colorectal Tumors
- DDW Studies Address Colorectal Cancer Screening by Ethnicity and Screening Strategy
- Recommendation of Colorectal Cancer Screening Impacts Adherence in Diverse Populations