CHICAGO, December 14, 2022 – Despite widespread awareness of the importance of screening for asymptomatic, early detection of cancer, there are only screening tests for five cancer types. With few recommended cancer screening tests and generally low adherence to cancer screening recommendations, it is difficult to detect cancer before symptoms arise, or before cancers have metastasized.

According to new research from NORC at the University of Chicago, only 14% of cancers in the United States are diagnosed after the patient had a recommended screening test, while the vast majority of cancers are found by other means including when symptoms occur or pursuant to other medical care. Researchers at NORC conducted the first-ever analysis to determine the percentage of cancers detected by screening. When cancer is detected in earlier stages, survival rates are four times higher compared to late-stage detection.

Just four types of cancer—breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung—have a screening test recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). These cancers make up 29% of all U.S. cancer cases. However, many people do not consistently receive recommended screenings, and 15% of all diagnosed cancers are these four cancers that have screening tests but patients did not receive them. A fifth cancer—prostate—has a screening test that is not broadly recommended due to overdiagnosis.

According to NORC estimates, 57% of all diagnosed cancers currently do not have a recommended screening test. These cancers are typically found in patients who are symptomatic, perhaps with cancers in later stages that are more difficult to treat. In total, these diagnoses account for 70% of cancer-related deaths.

“Cancer treatments have vastly improved over the last few decades, but the health system’s ability to screen for cancer, which is essential for early diagnosis and effective treatment, still has a long way to go,” said Caroline Pearson, senior vice president at NORC at the University of Chicago. “There need to be more screening options to catch more cancers and improve outcomes for patients.”

The percentage of patients who receive recommended screening and the effectiveness of those screenings impacts the percent of cancers detected by screening, across cancer types. For example, 61% of breast cancers are detected by screening, while just 3% of lung cancers are detected. Experts from NORC at the University of Chicago say these differences are the result of varying incidence and screening rates. For example, breast cancer screening rates range from 43.6% to 56.9%.

“To achieve our national goals to improve cancer care, we need better data about cancer screening and diagnosis, especially reliable data by race and ethnic group,” said Pearson.

To learn more about the percentage of cancers detected by screening and to explore state-by-state estimates, visit https://cancerdetection.norc.org/.