Men likelier than women to have bowel cancer test

	Tweet

Men are more likely than women to take up invitations for bowel screening, according to a large Cancer Research UK study published in the current issue of the Journal of Medical Screening.

Almost 8,000 men and women aged 55 to 64 were sent questionnaires asking about attitudes about bowel screening six months before a flexible sigmoidoscopy screening appointment.

Of those, around 70% completed the questionnaire and turned up for their appointment. 

However the gender mix was unequal, with 73% of the men turning up but only 67% of the women.

Lead author Jane Wardle said women were more worried than men about the test being embarrassing or humiliating. “This is surprising given that women are assumed to be more familiar with medical procedures,” she pointed out.

She added in a statement that research was underway to discover whether women would be less embarrassed, and so more likely to attend the screening, if female doctors carried out the test.

The findings come as Britain prepares to launch a national screening programme for bowel cancer next year. People over 60 will be screened using the faecal occult blood test followed, if necessary, by colonoscopy to look for early cancers and polyps.

SOURCE: J Med Screen 2005;12:20-27.

RELATED STORIES:
Biopsy Remains Best Way to Verify Mammography Results   “Mad” honey can be a hazard to the heart   Rat poison deemed “potential agent of terror”   Children and Orthopaedic Surgical Emergencies   MRI may predict continued decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment   Research identifies in-flight emergencies   More ‘superbug’ infections seen in ER patients   Paramedics Save More Lives When They Don’t Follow the Rules   Lives will be saved as early signs of meningitis now identified   New Tests Provide Clues to Fetal Health   Most would refuse emergency use H1N1 vaccine or additive   Homeless people without enough to eat are more likely to be hospitalized

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]