Cancer screening in women: recommendations, trends, and solutions

Cancer screening tests are an important part of health care, especially for women. Getting cancer screenings at the time they are recommended helps to find cancer-related changes before you develop any symptoms, or sometimes before you fully develop cancer. When cancers are found and treated early, survival rates are high and support getting routine screenings can save lives. At age 45 it is recommended a woman begin to get an annual mammogram, the x-ray test that looks for signs of breast cancer. At 55 years old, mammograms can be moved to every two years in someone who has had negative screenings in the past. Colon and rectal cancer screening should begin at age 45, which can be completed through a stool-based test (such as Cologard) or a visual examination with a colonoscopy. Screening for cervical cancer begins in a female's early 20s with routine testing until the age of 65. Between the ages of 21 to 29, a PAP smear should be done every 3 years with normal results. Co-testing with a PAP smear and an HPV (human papillomavirus) test should be completed every 5 years for women between the ages of 30 and 65. At home screening tests are now available for women for doing a PAP smear with the Teal WandTM. Women between the ages of 30 and 65 who choose only a PAP smear and not an HPV test, should repeat the PAP smear every 3 years. A 2026 study published in JAMA Network Open evaluated data for more than 68,000 women across the U.S. between the ages of 45 and 64 years to examine the rate of women who were up to date with breast cancer, colon cancer, and cervical cancer screening. Only around half of these women were up to date on all three screenings, even though all of them were eligible to receive them. In order to try and determine why this gap exists, researchers looked at different characteristics of the women in the study including specific age, whether or not they had insurance, race and ethnicity, and whether they lived in a rural or urban area. The researchers identified women who lived in a rural area had a lower percentage of all three screenings than their urban counterparts. It was found that lower household income correlated with lower rates of up-to-date screening patterns. The biggest impact on whether or not respondents were up to date had to do with access to care, such as if they regularly saw a provider, if they had an annual wellness visit in the past year, and if they had insurance coverage. While these factors may not seem surprising, there are efforts being made across Ohio and nationally to make sure women can get access to the screening they need regardless of income, insurance coverage, or if they have a primary doctor. Affordable Resources Through the Ohio Department of Health Breast and Cervical Cancer Project, women can receive help navigating the healthcare system, finding resources, and receive breast and cervical cancer screenings at no cost if qualifications are met. Those who qualify for free screening that leads to a diagnosis are then eligible for a special type of Medicaid benefit that helps them afford treatment. The Northern Regional Enrollment Agency can be found at the Fulton County Health Department. The American Breast Cancer Foundation has a breast cancer screening financial assistance program. The application is completed online and eligible patients are sent a grant voucher to their email to help with the cost of the test. This program is best for patients with access to a healthcare provider but worried about the cost of a mammogram. A similar program exists for colorectal cancer called Colorectal Cancer Alliance. This non-profit organization offers funding to at-risk individuals in need of screening. Another program called ColonoscopyAssist is a financial assistance program offering discounted rates, interest-free payment plan options, and a layaway program for uninsured or self-pay individuals. Further resources and information can be found on the Ohio Department of Health website and the Prevent Cancer Foundation site. Links for services are provided below, or reach out to your local pharmacist at ONU HealthWise for more information or help accessing resources. • Ohio Department of Health- Breast and Cervical Cancer Project: https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/breast-cervical-cancer-project • Prevent Cancer Foundation- Free and Low-Cost Cancer Screenings, Testing and Vaccinations: https://preventcancer.org/prevention-screening/free-and-low-cost-cancer-screenings-testing-and-vaccinations/ • American Breast Cancer Foundation-Breast Cancer Screening Financial Assistance Program: https://www.abcf.org/our-programs/breast-cancer-assistance-program/ • Colorectal Cancer Alliance- Financial Resource Assistance: https://colorectalcancer.org/resources-support/resources/financial-resource-assistance • ColonoscopyAssist: https://colonoscopyassist.com/ • Northern Region Breast and Cervical Cancer Project: Fulton County Health Department, 606 S Shoop Ave. Wauseon, OH 43567; 419-337-0915 Layla Dials is a student pharmacist and Karen Kier is a pharmacist, both on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team