Previous studies have highlighted the fact that insurance seems to play an important role in early detection of lethal cancers. However these studies had been confined to specific cancers like breast or prostate cancer and had not included large patient populations.

The current study analyzed the diagnostic trend among f 3.5 million cancer patients suffering from 12 most commonly prevalent cancers.

Data from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) was used to analyze the link between cancer diagnosis and insurance if any. The database covers 1,400 hospitals in the country and includes three quarters of all cancer patients in the United States.

Medicaid-insured patients and those without any health insurance were most likely to have a definitive diagnosis of advanced-stage cancer as compared to their privately insured counterparts. More often than not such patients were likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast and colorectal cancer. These cancers can be detected in an early stage in most of the cases.

"We saw a very consistent pattern. Insurance status has a tremendous impact on stage at-diagnosis, especially for those cancers that can be detected early through screening or have early warning signs," said lead researcher Dr. Michael Halpern of the American Cancer Society.

However the team also found pancreatic and ovarian cancer to be diagnosed in late stage in majority of cases regardless of the insurance status of the patient. But bladder cancer and melanoma were detected late in uninsured patients.

Reporting in the online edition of The Lancet, the researchers said it was important to provide adequate insurance coverage so that all people have equal access to care.

Main Article: "Association of insurance status and ethnicity with cancer stage at diagnosis for 12 cancer sites: a retrospective analysis." Published February, 17, 2008 in The Lancet Oncology. Co-authors: Michael T. Halpern, MD, PhD. Elizabeth Ward, PhD. Epidemiology and Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA.
 

Be first to comment this article

Write Comment

Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed. Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button. Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code.
Name:
E-mail
BBCode:
Comment:
Code:*
	I wish to be contacted by email regarding additional comments

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.4