Cure for Many Cancers? More Screening, Says Government

by KYW's medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough

According to a new government report, more than 10,000 people died last year because they weren't screened for colon cancer or breast cancer.  
The screening rate is improving, the report says, but it's still not good enough.

According to information from CDC's "Vital Signs" web site, colorectal screening increased from 52 percent in 2002 to 63 percent in 2008. Rates of mammogram screenings rose from 78 percent in 1997 to 81 percent in 2008.

But more than 22 million American men and women haven't been tested for colorectal cancer.  And about seven million women age 50-74 haven't recently had a mammogram.

As we all know by now, early detection is an important key to beating these two types of cancer.

Read Dr. Brian McDonough's daily medical reports