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Show test for cancer familiar The president of the Utah Division of the American Cancer Society is encouraged en-couraged by a Gallup Poll done for his organization that reports most Americans are familiar with common tests for early cancer detection. "People are becoming better educated about their health. Greater awareness of early detection is due in part to the work of the Cancer Society," said its state leader, Dr. J. Preston Hughes. In the study of 1,500 adults, 92 percent of the women questioned knew about the Pap test for uterine cancer and 86 percent had had at least one test. Breast examination for cancer performed by a physician was the second most familiar test. Of the female respondents, 86 percent were aware of the examination and 79 percent per-cent had been examined for breast cancer. In addition, 80 percent knew about mammography, the x-ray of the breast, and 41 percent reported undergoing a mammograph. Most breast cancers are discovered accidentally by women. Only 22 percent of the survey participants reported they regularly perform breast self examination, although 77 percent said they have done it. Many respondents didn't know about the guaiac slide test for hidden blood in the stool. The important tool for early detection of colonrectal cancer was recognized by only 26 percent of the survey participants who are older than 50 years the group who usually uses the test. Nineteen percent reported they had had the test. A Uintah Unit program designed to provide free testing using the guaiac method was hfghly successful earlier this year. One Vernal resident's life was probably saved because of the testing program. Dr. Hughes attributed the lack of awareness to the test's relative newness and the delicacy of the subject. sub-ject. "The test is not new to doctors," he explained. The poll also showed that women tended to know more about cancer detection tests than men and older adults scored higher in responses than younger adults. |
