Three Important Findings to Change Behaviors,
Close the Gap in Care and Fight Cancer
By Mohit Manrao
AstraZeneca recognizes World Cancer Day—a day focused on the power of collaboration and what we as the cancer community can do to reduce inequities in cancer care together.
Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in United States and a leading cause of death worldwide.1,2 So for us at AstraZeneca, fighting cancer is our top priority each and every day as we strive to one day eliminate cancer as a cause of death. And to achieve this bold ambition, it’s important to understand why gaps in care exist – particularly around perceptions and behaviors regarding cancer screening in the US.
To take a closer look, we recently conducted a national survey of more than 4,600 US adults (age 18 or older), including over 1,300 individuals who had been diagnosed with cancer or had a close friend or family member diagnosed with cancer. Three surprising findings emerged that exposed critical gaps in cancer screening and care:3
1. Many Americans are not aware of, and not following, United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) cancer screening recommendations
The USPSTF recommends certain cancer screenings (cervical, breast, colorectal, lung and prostate) based on a person’s age or individual risk because not all screenings are appropriate for everyone. While eligibility varies by screening type, general awareness of these guidelines varies significantly, too. When presented with the list of all cancer screenings and asked which the USPSTF recommends, regardless of whether respondents were eligible, the survey showed that among US adults:3
- 75% do not think a lung cancer screening recommendation exists
- 68% do not think a cervical cancer screening recommendation exists
- 65% do not think a colorectal cancer screening recommendation exists
- 57% do not think a prostate cancer screening recommendation exists
- 51% do not think a breast cancer screening recommendation exists
- 38% are unsure if any of the provided cancer screening recommendations exist
Cancer screening is essential for timely detection and early treatment.4 Moreover, new research shows that nearly half of deaths and 42% of healthy years lost due to cancer are attributable to preventable risk factors.5 Screening programs should support other actions to reduce one’s risk for cancer, such as limiting tobacco use and maintaining a healthy weight.6
Yet, as this survey shows, Americans need greater education around individual risk factors, which cancers can be screened for, who is eligible and why it’s critical to detect cancer early through regular screening because we know that every cancer detected earlier is a chance to save a life.
2. Younger generations are more likely to say they would delay cancer treatment until they make necessary work and family accommodations3
Recent trends indicate rising colorectal, breast, uterine, kidney, and pancreas cancer rates in younger age groups in the US.7 This is particularly concerning given younger people are more likely to experience a delayed cancer diagnosis, which could result in their cancer progressing to a less curable stage.7
No matter one’s age, a cancer diagnosis should trigger a sense of urgency. Yet our research found that half of younger generations age 18 to 44 and more than a third of older generations older than age 45 surveyed say they’d delay cancer treatment until they felt their life affairs were ready.3
3. About a third of survey participants reported access to treatment as a top concern3
Obstacles along the cancer care continuum (e.g., transportation, financial and language barriers) can prevent people from getting the care they need.8 That’s why reducing barriers to optimal cancer care – regardless of one’s age, socioeconomic status or gender – is critical, along with initiatives that increase awareness of screening.
Unveiling Get Body Checked Against Cancer
We remain committed to our existing and new initiatives that seek to close gaps in cancer screening and care. In particular, just last November we teamed up with Hockey Fights Cancer™, a joint initiative with the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), to reach even more people and inspire them to face cancer with courage.
In recognition of World Cancer Day, AstraZeneca is proud to unveil Get Body Checked Against Cancer, our new campaign in partnership with the NHL and the NHLPA, to educate hockey fans around risk factors and ultimately empower them to talk to their doctors about available cancer screenings right for them.
No one organization can close the cancer care gap alone and World Cancer Day is also an important reminder of the role we each play with our personal health and the power of early detection. Please consider taking a few minutes today to see if you are eligible for a screening and take steps to Get Body Checked Against Cancer.
NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks and Hockey Fights Cancer is a trademark of the National Hockey League. © NHL 2024. All Rights Reserved.
NHLPA and the NHLPA logo are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League Players’ Association. © NHLPA. All Rights Reserved.
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1. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2023.
2. World Health Organization Cancer Fact Sheet. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer. Accessed on January 18, 2024.
3. AstraZeneca Data on File.
4. World Health Organization. A Short Guide to Cancer Screening. 2022. Available at: 9789289057561-eng.pdf (who.int). Accessed on January 18, 2024.
5. GBD 2019 Cancer Risk Factors Collaborators. The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet. 2022 Aug 20;400(10352):563-591. Doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01438-6.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How to Prevent Cancer or Find it Early. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/prevention/index.htm. Accessed on January 18, 2024.
7. di Martino E, Smith L, Bradley SH, et al. Incidence trends for twelve cancers in younger adults-a rapid review. Br J Cancer. 2022 Jun;126(10):1374-1386. doi: 10.1038/s41416-022-01704-x.
8. Chan RJ, Milch VE, Crawford-Williams F, et al. Patient navigation across the cancer care continuum: An overview of systematic reviews and emerging literature. CA Cancer J Clin. 2023 Nov-Dec;73(6):565-589. doi: 10.3322/caac.21788. Epub 2023 Jun 26.
