Report: Less Chances Of Testing For Colorectal, Breast Cancer For Poor Canadians

July 1, 2009 2:45 p.m. EST

Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) - While more Canadian women between the ages 50 to 69 went through a breast cancer exam in 2008, the increase was felt less by residents with low income, according to a report released Tuesday by Statistics Canada.

The past two years 72 percent of elderly Canadian women had mammograms, but a decline among poor Canadian females availing of the test was reported between 2005 and 2008.

Aside from the economic factor, going through a mammogram was less common among women who were less educated, smokers and without a regular physician.

For the same period, going through testing for colorectal cancer had a higher rate among residents from higher-income households, young people, non-smokers, had a regular doctor and were active in their free time. The late mid-lifers, or those between the ages 50 to 64, had the least number who went through colorectal cancer screening, while a surge among Canadians aged 65 and above for the same medical procedure was reported.

Provincial rate for mammograms were quite similar, but the difference in colorectal tests was quite pronounced with results ranging from 28 percent in Quebec to a high 53 percent in Manitoba.

Colon Cancer Canada president Bunnie Schwartz explained the lower rate of colorectal testing among poor Canadians to lesser access to family physicians. Colon cancer is the second top killer among different kinds of cancer in Canada. In 2009, over 21,500 Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with colon cancer.