Breast and cervical cancer screening: Hype, hope, evidence and equality

As public health workers, we encourage the uptake of screening tests that reduce mortality and morbidity. As proponents of evidence-based practice, we acknowledge the evidence showing that some screening tests are less effective than we had hoped. Public health education efforts, including some undertaken by commercial entities, have created a climate of both unrealistic fear (of the likelihood of developing cancer) and unrealistic hope (of the effectiveness of screening). As we work to create equality across racial and ethnic groups in cancer screening, treatment and outcomes, we're challenged by persisting disparities. This session will address current controversies and challenges in breast and cervical cancer screening, with special attention to groups that have higher prevalence of cancer (for example, African American women and pre-menopausal breast cancer, immigrant women and cervical cancer), late diagnosis (low-income women) or worse outcomes (women of color in general) with a goal of articulating a vision of breast and cervical cancer screening is evidence-based, reduces disparities, improves outcomes and enables women to make informed decisions about their health. Individual speakers in this session will review the current disparities in mortality from breast and cervical cancer and examine possible causes, including prevalence as well as inadequate screening and treatment; review the evidence of effectiveness of breast and cervical cancer screening; assess current breast and cervical cancer screening education and outreach programs for their effectiveness in reducing disparities as well as their accuracy; and report on the latest research on women's beliefs about breast and cervical cancer screening.