Age-Related Disparities in Cancer Screening: Analysis of 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data

The Article in Brief

An examination of 3 cancer-screening tests shows that such tests may be underused or overused based on age. Abnormal growths in the colon that can develop into cancer (called adenomatous polyps) are most likely to develop between 55 and 65 years of age. Screening for colorectal cancer, however, is relatively low among 50-year olds and increases with age, reaching its peak among 70- to 74-year-olds. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer also increases with age, from 50 years old through ages 75 to 79 years, despite the unproved benefit of PSA screening, particularly among men who are 70 years old and older. The rate of screening for breast cancer using mammograms is highest among women 55 to 59 years old and declines after that. Although some guidelines for mammograms do not include women aged 70 years and older, other recommendations suggest that mammograms should be discussed with all women who are expected to live 5 years or more, regardless of age. More research is needed on how age effects cancer screening.