Cancer screenings still performed for elderly patients

Older patients who have limited life expectancy still get routine screenings for different cancers even though they aren’t likely to benefit from them, according to an article in the journal Cancer.

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Researchers examined rates of screenings for prostate, breast, cervical and colorectal cancer in patients aged 65 years or older who had high risk of 9-year mortality. They found that 31 to 55 percent of patients with high mortality risk received a recent cancer screening.

Overall, the screening rates for patients with a very high mortality risk were as follows:

  • Prostate cancer — 55 percent
  • Breast cancer — 38 percent
  • Colorectal cancer — 41 percent

Even though rates of cancer screenings for people with high mortality risk remain high, they did note fewer screenings for prostate and cervical cancers were conducted in recent years, compared to 2000 rates, and older age was associated with fewer screenings for all cancers.

More articles on cancer screenings:
Medicare to pay for lung cancer screenings for smokers
Fewer Americans report cost-related care access problems
Humana, United Hospital System enter accountable care partnership 

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