Despite the fact that regular cancer screenings make it possible to detect cancer at an early stage and often successfully treat it, and the number of people attending screenings in Latvia is growing, almost a fifth or 19% of respondents do not know which cancer screenings are paid for by the state, according to population survey data , conducted by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) in September.
The survey found that 44% of respondents are aware of bowel cancer screening. 73% of women are aware of cervical cancer screening, 53% of women are aware of publicly funded breast cancer screening, and only 25% of men surveyed are aware of prostate cancer screening.
In 2023, the response rate for cervical cancer screening was 55.2%, breast cancer was 36.1%, colorectal cancer was 25.8%, and the response rate for prostate cancer screening was the highest at 80%, according to the CDC.
According to the CDC, screening response rates have increased in recent years, but are still below the European Commission guidelines for screening programs to be considered effective.
Source: www.gorod.lv
