L.I. Men Less Likely Than Women To Get Screened For Cancer: Poll

According to a new poll released by South Nassau Communities Hospital, men are less likely than women to receive potentially life-saving cancer screenings. Women have a greater understanding and follow through on mammogram screenings than there is among men about prostate cancer screenings, or among both genders about colon cancer screenings, the poll results show.

The poll, the fourth Truth in Medicine poll that South Nassau has conducted, shows that about 74 percent of women age 40 and older reported having a mammogram screening for breast cancer during the past year. But just 53 percent of men age 40 and over who were polled reported being screened for prostate cancer, and only 55 percent believe prostate screening recommendations are clear, while 45 percent found them confusing or were unsure about them. About 60 percent of adults 40 and older reported being screened for colon cancer in the last 10 years.

The South Nassau Truth in Medicine Poll, sponsored by Bethpage Federal Credit Union, surveyed 600 residents of Long Island and New York City as part of South Nassau’s effort to gather data about public attitudes on key public health topics and help spur public education to improve health.

"These poll findings are significant, and show we have more work to do to educate men about the importance of getting screened," said Dr. Michael Herman, South Nassau’s director of urological oncology.

Regular screenings can help detect cancer before it has spread and makes it easier to successfully treat. Each year, the American Cancer Society produces a set of guidelines on screenings. Overall, the guidelines on mammography screenings were clearest to respondents, with only 18 percent of all female respondents saying they were either confused or not sure about the age and frequency recommendations. For those women who have not had a mammogram in the past year, 33 percent believe the recommendations are confusing.

Out-of-pocket costs also play a role in willingness to get screened, the poll shows. Less than half of adults age 40 and older would pay out-of-pocket for mammogram, prostate and colon cancer screenings. Even among adults who have the means to pay for a screening, 28 percent would not pay or are unsure if they would pay out of pocket for cancer detection tests.

Attitudes regarding screening practices varied by age, gender and racial lines, the poll showed. White women were nearly 10 percent more likely to be screened for breast cancer (74 percent) than black women (65 percent). And those with a primary care physician were significantly more likely to be screened for cancer.

In the case of mammograms, early testing can help detect even the earliest forms of cancer. "One in eight women will develop breast cancer, and the risk only increases with age,” said Dr. Christine Hodyl, director of breast surgery at South Nassau. "The best outcomes come from informed patients who do their homework and know about their history and risk factors and have regular screenings."

For women with an average risk of breast cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends the option for women age 40-44 to start screening with a mammography every year. Women age 45-54 should have mammograms annually. Women over age 54 could choose screenings every other year. These screenings should begin as early as age 30 for women with higher risk factors.

Men were far less likely than women to comply with guidelines for annual screenings. Among women age 50-64, 86 percent have had a mammogram screening in the past year, compared to 64 percent of men in the same age group receiving prostate screenings. Men were also less likely to have annual visits with a primary care physician. When male respondents saw a primary care physician, they were far more likely to be screened for prostate and colon cancer.

The most confusion is among the recommendations for prostate cancer screenings. The American Cancer Society recommends that men of average risk for prostate cancer be screened starting at age 50 and then either annually or every two years. For men with higher risk levels, screenings should begin at age 40 or 45 and done annually.

"The recommendations for prostate cancer screening can be confusing and often controversial," said Herman. While women can see both a primary care physician and their gynecologist annually, men are not as likely to make an annual appointment. "There is clearly a need for better education among men about the importance of annual health evaluations with your primary care physician in order to have an engaged conversation and shared decision-making about the appropriate prostate cancer screening."

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