Cancer Screening Rates Rebound Post-Pandemic, But Cervical Cancer Prevention Lags Behind
核心洞察
Breast and colorectal cancer (搜索) screening rates have rebounded and exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with increases of 7% and 12% respectively according to the American Cancer Society's latest report.
Cervical cancer (搜索) screening remains 14% below pre-pandemic levels with no improvement since 2021, raising concerns about potential increases in late-stage diagnoses and mortality rates.
Cancer (搜索) prevention disparities are widening along socioeconomic lines, with screening recovery primarily benefiting higher-income, better-educated individuals with private insurance or Medicare coverage.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has released new findings showing mixed progress in cancer (搜索) prevention efforts following pandemic-era disruptions, with some screening rates rebounding while others continue to lag behind pre-pandemic levels.
According to the report published in the journal Cancer (搜索) Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention on April 23, 2025, breast and colorectal cancer (搜索) screening rates have not only recovered but surpassed pre-pandemic levels, while cervical cancer (搜索) prevention measures remain significantly below previous benchmarks.
Screening Recovery Shows Mixed Results
Breast cancer (搜索) screening has exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with approximately 80% of eligible women now undergoing mammograms after a notable decline during COVID-19 lockdowns. Similarly, colorectal cancer (搜索) screening has increased to 60% of eligible individuals, with 54% undergoing colonoscopy and 11% completing stool-based testing.
"These findings are mostly encouraging as the pandemic resulted in widespread disruptions in cancer (搜索) screening in the U.S.," said Dr. Jessica Star, associate scientist of cancer risk factors and screening surveillance research at the American Cancer Society.
However, cervical cancer (搜索) screening remains at 73%, which is 14% below pre-pandemic levels, continuing a troubling decline that began in the early 2000s. Additionally, HPV (搜索) vaccination rates among teenagers aged 13-17 have stagnated at 61% between 2021 and 2023, reflecting pandemic-era disruptions in preventive healthcare.
"The continued decline in cervical cancer (搜索) screening is troubling as diagnoses of cervical cancers at an early stage, when they are more treatable, also decreased during the pandemic," Dr. Star explained. "Without returns to cervical cancer screening, prevention and early-stage diagnoses may continue to drop and put more lives at risk."
Progress in Cancer Risk Reduction
The ACS report highlighted some positive trends in cancer (搜索) risk reduction, particularly regarding tobacco use. Cigarette smoking declined to 11% in 2023, continuing a long-term downward trend that predates the pandemic.
"These findings only further prove how investments in tobacco control have helped reduce the number of people falling prey to Big Tobacco's deadly products and practices," said Lisa Lacasse, president of the ACS Cancer Action Network (搜索).
However, researchers noted that menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco products continue to make tobacco use more appealing to young people, Black individuals, and bisexual individuals, potentially undermining overall progress.
Persistent Health Challenges
Several major cancer (搜索) risk factors showed no improvement during or after the pandemic:
- Excess body weight remains prevalent, with 40% of adults classified as obese and 32% as overweight
- Less than half of adults (48%) meet recommended physical activity levels
- More than a quarter (27%) of adults reported no leisure-time exercise
- Heavy alcohol use remained stable at approximately 6% of the population, with higher rates among middle-aged individuals
"An estimated 40% of U.S. cancer (搜索) cases are attributable to risk factors that people can change," noted Dr. Priti Bandi, scientific director of cancer risk factors and screening surveillance research at the ACS. "Cancer prevention and early detection are central to the American Cancer Society's goal to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer."
Widening Disparities in Cancer Prevention
The research revealed concerning disparities in who benefited from the rebound in cancer (搜索) screening. Improvements in breast and colorectal cancer (搜索) screening occurred primarily among higher-income individuals, those with higher education levels, and people with private insurance or Medicare coverage.
"Our report underscores the need to strengthen efforts to improve access and receipt of preventive services, including cancer (搜索) screening, HPV (搜索) vaccination, and counseling and treatment for tobacco dependence," said Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president of surveillance and health equity science at the ACS.
Health systems could play a crucial role in addressing these disparities by improving screening communications and providing patient navigators to help overcome structural and cost barriers, according to the researchers.
Future Concerns
ACS experts expressed concern that recent cuts to federal health agencies could jeopardize continued progress in cancer (搜索) prevention efforts. The organization emphasized that federal agencies have played a critical role in driving successful reductions in smoking rates through tobacco control programs and funding.
"We are deeply concerned that recent cuts to these important agencies will jeopardize continued progress to reduce tobacco utilization nationwide," Lacasse stated.
As the healthcare system continues to recover from pandemic disruptions, targeted interventions will be necessary to address persistent gaps in cancer (搜索) prevention, particularly for cervical cancer (搜索) screening and HPV (搜索) vaccination, while ensuring that preventive services reach all segments of the population equitably.