Cervical cancer screening lags behind colorectal, lung: What to know

Rates of timely screening, surveillance and diagnostic testing for cervical cancer lag behind rates for colorectal and lung cancer, according to a study published Sept. 10 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 

Researchers used data from 10 health systems participating in the Population-based Research to Optimize the Screening Process consortium for the study. The data followed individuals who received timely screening, surveillance and diagnostic testing for cervical, colorectal or lung cancer between 2018 and the present.

Here are five things to know from the study:

1. For cervical cancer, the overall proportions of timely screening, surveillance and diagnostic testing were 41.8%, 37.3% and 61.2%, respectively.
   
   
2. For colorectal cancer, the overall proportions of timely screening, surveillance and diagnostic testing were 82.4%, 45.5% and 73.5%, respectively.
   
   
3. For lung cancer, the overall proportions of timely screening, surveillance and diagnostic testing were 73.8%, 80.5% and 80.7%, respectively.
   
   
4. Researchers found differences across the screening continuum by insurance status, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic status for all three cancers.
   
   
5. “The full benefits of screening are realized only when they are coupled with timely care across the subsequent ‘screening continuum’ steps,” the study authors wrote. “Comparison across organ types may facilitate the identification of interventions and policies that could broadly improve cancer prevention and promote health equity.”

Read the full study here.