When it comes to fighting cancer, most Pennsylvanians know how important age-appropriate screenings are, according to research conducted through The Patient Poll by the Institute for Good Medicine at the Pennsylvania Medical Society. Furthermore, many recognize the important role of a colonoscopy.
Yet, colorectal cancer screening rates in the Pennsylvania are lower than most other states in the nation, while the incidence and mortality rates for colon cancer in Pennsylvania are higher than the national average. In fact, this year alone nearly 2,500 Pennsylvanians will die from colorectal cancer.
As such, the Pennsylvania Division of the American Cancer Society and the Pennsylvania Medical Society are joining forces to improve these statistics.
“When colorectal cancers are detected early, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent,” said Enrique Hernandez, MD, president of the American Cancer Society, Pennsylvania Division, and a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society Board of Trustees. “But only 39 percent of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at this stage, primarily due to low screening rates.”
While a significant part of the campaign to improve colon cancer statistics is directed towards the public, the partnership with the Pennsylvania Medical Society will tap the physician population to educate their patients about the importance of colon cancer screenings.
To assist physicians, various resources in English and Spanish are available on the American Cancer Society website. The Pennsylvania Medical Society will reach out to physicians through various member communications.
“We’re asking all of our physician members to talk to every patient over 50 years of age about the need for a screening,” said Daniel J. Glunk, MD, president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
Peter S. Lund, MD, founder of the Institute for Good Medicine at the Pennsylvania Medical Society, adds, “As a whole, every day Pennsylvania physicians see thousands of patients. It makes sense to reach out to the public through physicians to improve screening rates.”