Sustained efforts to increase colorectal cancer screening have allowed Delaware to surpass the nation in screening rates for the disease, according to 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. While nationwide, 62 percent of adults age 50 and over report ever having a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, 74 percent of Delawareans report having the tests.

Under the leadership and guidance of the Delaware Cancer Consortium, the Division of Public Health and other partners in the fight against cancer have made great strides to lessen the cancer burden. Screening prevalence increased significantly in all three counties from 2002 to 2008, an indication of public understanding of the importance of colorectal cancer screening in Delaware. Progress by county is as follows:

- New Castle County: In 2002, the screening rate was 60 percent. In 2008, the rate was 75 percent, an increase of 15 percentage points.
- Kent County: In 2002, the screening rate was 54. In 2008, the rate was 73 percent, an increase of 19 percentage points.
- Sussex County: In 2002, the screening rate was 54 percent. In 2008, the rate was 74, an increase of 20 percentage points.

Seventy-two percent of residents who had sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy did so as part of a routine health exam, showing that Delawareans are not waiting until they experience a problem. DPH's targeted health education initiatives have also resulted in major strides against racial health disparities in colorectal cancer screening Since 2002, screening rates among the state's African Americans increased 54 percent, while Caucasian screening rates increased 29 percent.

The increase in colorectal cancer screening is positively impacting people's lives by discovering cancer early, when it is most treatable. In 2001, nearly 30 percent of cases were diagnosed in the local stage compared to 41 percent in 2007, showing a 37 percent increase in just six years. Among African Americans, nearly 15 percent of cases were detected in the local stage in 2001; however by 2007, this number had risen to 33 percent, an increase of 113 percent. Over this same time, the percentage of local stage cases diagnosed among Caucasians rose from 32 to 42 percent, a 31 percent increase.

In 2001, the proportion of local-stage diagnoses among Caucasians was 108 percent greater than the corresponding proportion for African Americans; by 2007, the difference had fallen to just 28 percent.

Link to complete report

Source
Delaware Health and Social Services