Partnering with newspaper publisher New California Media, the campaign will promote cancer screening among ethnic communities, such as Latinos and Asians, shown to consistently lag behind other groups in rates of cancer screening.

In a recent study, one of the most common reasons reported for not having a recent cancer screening is that the patient “hasn’t had any problems.” This misconception is particularly prevalent among the ethnic and racial groups least likely to get tested.
For example, Asians report lower rates of screening than Whites for the four main cancers tests: Pap test for cervical cancer; mammography for breast cancer; stool blood test, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy for colon cancer; and the prostate specific antigen test for prostate cancer. Less than 70% of Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean women report having a Pap test in the last three years – a disturbing statistic since Vietnamese women are five times more likely than White women to have cervical cancer.

For more information, go to http://www.ethnicphysicians.org/projects/Cancer Screening/index.aspx. (AMA Federation News, 8/3/04, American Medical Association)

Screening tests are crucial to preventing cancer. Screening leads to early detection, prevention and a cure of cancer in many cases. Screening saves lives.

Latinos report lower screening rates than whites for breast, prostate and colon cancer. Cervical cancer is high among Latina women, with rates double that of white women. For colon cancer, only 37 percent of Latinos report having been screened recently, compared to 56 percent of whites. Latina women are at particular risk—only one in three (33 percent) reports having a recent colon cancer screening test.

Asians report lower rates of screening than whites for all four main cancers that are screened for: Pap test for cervical cancer; mammography for breast cancer; the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer; and a stool blood test, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy for colon cancer. Less than 70 percent of Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean women report having had a Pap test in the last three years—a disturbing statistic since Vietnamese women are five times more likely than white women to have cervical cancer.

To promote screening for cancer in all of California’s communities, the California Medical Association Foundation, L.A. Care Health Plan, and the Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations are collaborating and developing cancer screening materials in seven languages. These materials will be disseminated through the state’s 50+ Ethnic Physician Organizations, the California Medical Association, health plans, and community based organizations and will be available at www.ethnicphysicians.org.

Regular screenings should be done in the absence of any symptoms—something many Californians don't know. One of the most common reasons reported for not having a recent cancer screening is that the patient “hasn't had any problems.” This is a misconception. The earlier the detection of potential cancer, the better the outcome.

The cost of getting screened need not be a factor. In California, the Every Women Counts program covers women age 40 and older (for cervical cancer screening, women age 25 and older), who are lower income and have no or limited health insurance. Almost 900,000 women are eligible for breast cancer screening services; more than 1,800,000 for cervical cancer screening services.

Ask your doctor about getting regularly screened for cancer.

Asians also report lower rates of screening than whites for the four main cancers that are screened for: cervical, breast, colon, and prostate cancer. Less than 70% of Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean women report having a pap test in the last 3 years—a disturbing statistic since Vietnamese women are five times more likely than white women to have cervical cancer.

American Indians are less likely to have been recently screened for breast or prostate cancer than whites, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders consistently report some of the lowest screening rates in the state.

Cancer screening rates are lower for low-income Californians, and those with limited English proficiency, according to the study. Adults covered by Medi-Cal, which covers cancer screenings, are screened at lower rates than those with job-based insurance.

Health Education materials developed at the appropriate literacy level have been developed in seven languages to help physicians communicate with their patients about the importance of cancer screening. Incorporating the principals of health literacy is important in helping patients to take action and get screened. L.A. Care Health Plan’s Cultural & Linguistic Services Department, the California Medical Association Foundation, and the Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations have collaborated to develop patient education materials in Spanish and other Asian languages on the importance of cancer screening.

The patient education materials, along with other cancer screening and health literacy resources are available on the Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations website at www.ethnicphysicians.org.

In California, Latinos report lower screening rates than Whites for breast, colon and prostate cancer. Cervical cancer is found to be higher among Latina women, with rates doubling that of White women. Asians report lower rates of screening than Whites for cervical, breast, colon and prostate cancers.

Less than 70 percent of Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean women report having a Pap test in the last three years, an alarming statistic given that Vietnamese women are five times more likely than White women to have cervical cancer. American Indians are less likely than Whites to have been recently screened for breast or prostate cancer. Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders consistently report some of the lowest screening rates in the state as well. Overall, cancer screening rates are lower for low-income Californians and those with limited English proficiency, according to the study.