Despite the availability of early-detection screening tests, nearly half of cervical cancers and one-third of breast cancers in the U.S. are diagnosed in later stages, suggesting that more needs to be done to ensure people are screened early, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Nov. 24, Reuters/MSNBC reports. The report also found that about 50% of colorectal cancers in the U.S. are diagnosed in later stages.

The report analyzed national registries for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer rates by stage, as well as several demographic characteristics, including race, gender and geographic location. Late-stage breast cancer rates were highest among women ages 70 through 79 and among black women. The rates were also highest among women living in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington state. Rates for late-stage cervical cancer were highest among women ages 50 through 70 and among Hispanic women. The highest rates were seen in Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

CDC's Marcus Plescia said in a statement, "This report causes concern because so many preventable cancers are not being diagnosed when treatment is more effective." Researchers said in the report that the federal health reform law (PL 111-148) would help reduce cost barriers to early screening by requiring insurers to cover recommended cancer screening tests at no cost to the patient.

According to Reuters/MSNBC, about 12,000 U.S. women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, while more than 191,000 women were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2006 (Steenhuysen, Reuters/MSNBC, 11/24).

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