Are whites more likely to be screened for colon cancer?

According to a recent study looking at the Medicare population, the answer appears to be yes.

MedPage Today
reports a study showing that elderly white patients had colon cancer screening rates ranging from 39 to 47 percent, compared to 29 to 38 percent in blacks and 23 to 33 percent in Hispanics.

First off, all those rates are dismally low. There should be no reason that colon cancer screening rates are below 50 percent.

Next, access to care shouldn’t be an issue, as this study looked at patients who were on Medicare. Like treatment for heart disease, where the numbers show a similar disparity, physicians need to be vigilant in offering the same treatment options and screening tests to minority patients.

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