Americans Cut Down On Checking For Colon Cancer During Recession

The recession pushed many Americans to cut back on a vital service, one that could have cost some their lives.

Americans between the ages of 50 to 64 got 500,000 fewer colonoscopies, or screenings aimed at detecting colon cancer, during the recession, compared to the two years before, according to a recent study from researchers at the University of North Carolina's medical school.

The cut back may have had adverse affects on Americans’ health; another recent study found that removing polyps detected by colonoscopies can cut the risk of dying from colon cancer in half.

The study on the prevalence of screenings during the recession also found that regardless of the economic climate, cost is often a barrier for patients looking to get screened. Patients with out-of-pocket costs that were $300 or more were less likely to get screened then those with costs that were $50 or less, Spencer Dorn, one of the study's authors told the Wall Street Journal, and that gap grew during the recession.

The downturn has pushed many Americans to cut back on health care across the board. High unemployment during the recession and into the recovery has meant that many Americans scaled back on going to the doctor and hospital, either because they don’t have employer-sponsored health insurance or because they have limited funds, according to health companies cited by Dow Jones.

Hospitals also suffered from the cut backs. With fewer insured patients, the number of patients using elective and other more profitable procedures in California procedures fell in 2009, forcing them to hurt for credit, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In 2010, the number of Americans with health insurance fell for the first time in more than two decades, according to CNNMoney. And according to Gallup, the percentage of uninsured Americans only grew last year. Though the recession technically ended in 2009, its effects such high unemployment and suppressed wages have lasted into the recovery, likely pushing more Americans to lose or skimp on health insurance.

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Comments

[macohmz]

09:06 PM on 02/27/2012

The Colonoscopy Lobby must be falling down on the job.

[ur2nutty4me]

05:28 PM on 02/27/2012

So American severely cut back on needed health care due to higher and higher co-pays while insurers raise their rates every year or even more often and reap substantially more profits.from increased revenue coming in and decreased revenue going out and we sit here with our thumbs up are proverbial backsides.

Someone please tell or show me when capitalism and the perfect theory of supply and demand actually takes place and works.

[Harold Saxon]

11:36 AM on 02/27/2012

They should also mention that for colonoscopies, all but one of the insurance companies (UHC) have stopped paying for safe deep sedation (Propofol), instead forcing patients to undergo "conscious sedation" (Versed), which acts only as an amnesiac, has no pain relief properties, and carries the potential for long-term memory impairment. They're essentially saying that it doesn't matter how much conscious pain you suffer as long as you forget afterwards. As long as insurance saves a buck, they don't care about your pain and those who experience long-term memory impairment from midazolam. How cruel and cold.

Folks, if you have the option, pay the extra out of pocket for Propofol and an anesthesiologist. As a biochem major, please believe that it is well worth the cost.

[Gudrun]

01:37 PM on 02/27/2012

I had Versed for my scope, no problem!

[Harold Saxon]

02:19 PM on 02/27/2012

You're very fortunate. There's a relatively low rate of side effects, but even a rate of one out of every ten is still one too many people who has to suffer. Especially when safer, more humane alternatives are available.

[Mamma Roma]

02:15 AM on 02/28/2012

Oh, I believe you. I've had 5 Colonoscopies in the last 12 years. The first 4 were fine. The last one, I had at Kaiser Hospital in Baldwin Park, Ca. The staff was rude, the Doctor was late, so they rushed everything even the IV. I felt the pain, and I remember.

I came out of the procedure unsteady on my feet, so I sat in the waiting room while my husband hunted down a chair to wheel me out (they didn't even care to provide one). There was a Mexican chick there with 3 or 4 kids running around the chairs in between me so I asked her to please make them stop. She smirked at me and of course did nothing. As we left, she gave me the finger. So much for Kaiser. I was supposed to go back a year later and here it is 2012. I just can't afford the co-pay and I'm afraid now.

At 59, I tell you, it's a drag getting old, the old man's out of work and there doesn't seem to be a place for him in the job market anymore. The numbers will continue to show, the 50-64 age group was has been the hardest hit by the economy.

[WomenOnGuard]

09:15 AM on 02/27/2012

So, we have less unemployed, but have to pay $4 for gasoline... "One way, or another, they're gonna getcha, getcha, getcha..." Just like Blondie used to say! We need electric vehicles NOW!

[Chastity Pine]

09:05 AM on 02/27/2012

It's not just cancer screenings and health insurance, it's everything. Gas, food, prescriptions, electric, heating fuels, etc....This country is spiraling out of control.

[Christina Belcher]

09:13 AM on 02/27/2012

I agree. Both, my husband and I work. We make a supposedly decent income. I feel as if we have less disposable money than we had in our twenties. The cost of dental care, health care, gas, food (healhty food), college, etc has gone up so high that it eats up anything extra we have. And I really dislike when I am told that I should be able to save a lot from what we make. How? I don't even know how people afford more than one child anymore.

[Chastity Pine]

09:16 AM on 02/27/2012

My husband and I have two young boys. It's not as easy as it was 5 years ago that's for sure.

[Vinkaye]

09:20 AM on 02/27/2012

I agree with you... our family too feels like we had more years ago when we made less. We do have 3 children, and it's crazy expensive! Just had a conversation with another parent, who had to take their child to the emergency room, and was given a script for a $300 antibiotic. We now all have to figure out how to cut back on our driving, to save gas money. Forget food bills... and college, OMG... we are terrified of the impending college issue.

[DUSAA-1775]

08:55 AM on 02/27/2012

Recession?? What recession?

[farmilyman]

08:40 AM on 02/27/2012

If the 1%ers paid the same tax rate as the middle class we'd have plenty of money for universal health care.

[Gone 1 20 13]

09:26 AM on 02/27/2012

FYI ... 10% of Americans (hardly the middle class) represent over 70% of all federal income tax revenues collected. The bottom 50% of wage earners (those earning under $32,000/year) account for only 2.25% of all federal income taxes. The remaining 40% of wage earners (those making between $32,000-$66,000) pay the remaining 27.75% of tax revenues collected. So it would seem that the 1% you reference are indeed pulling their own weight and are, in fact, paying more than their fair share. And, keep in mind, that 46% of all Americans contribute nothing whatsoever to the federal income tax revenues, and 48% of all Americans receive some form of government aid. At the end of the day it wouldn't matter how much we taxed the 1% because the Government will just pi$$ it away on more ear marks, pork, and social programs.

BTW, those figures are from 2009 and I suspect the percentages are now even more skewed against the high wage earners.

[farmilyman]

10:06 AM on 02/27/2012

If the greedy rich paid a living wage, it wouldn't be so skewed.

[Vinkaye]

01:47 PM on 02/27/2012

same old same.... how many Swiss accounts does Mr. Romney have again? Accounts in the Cayman Islands? Do you think that possibly an extremely rich man like Mr. Romney, may hold those foreign accounts to shield his money from counting toward his tax payments? Hmmmmm! Go figure, an extremely wealthy person may have a high priced tax attorney, who works to find them loopholes, and to help them avoid paying taxes! Also, keep in mind that top 10% hold more wealth than the bottom 90% combined. Incidentally, you do realize that income tax is collected from the paychecks of every person working in this country, and even though the person trying to feed a family of 4 on $32,000 a year, may get a tax refund (which is why you label them has having paid "no taxes") that refund is not equal to 100% of the taxes that had been collected from their paychecks.... hence, they still very much pay taxes. They also pay sales tax, gas tax, property tax, school tax...etc.!

[NevaforLeadership]

08:37 AM on 02/27/2012

Irresponsible lead-in headline. The recession ended in June 2009.

[Vinkaye]

01:48 PM on 02/27/2012

Not so much!

[NevaforLeadership]

04:50 PM on 02/27/2012

You expose your lack of understanding of economics and/or your inability to stay current with what's going on.

[nnanciejean]

08:34 AM on 02/27/2012

Gas jumped 40 cents in a week. Thanks Obama for getting in bed with big oil. As a 99% I will have to cut back even more thanks to your lack of leadership.

[Christina Belcher]

09:16 AM on 02/27/2012

Gas prices jumped all over the world. Europe is getting hit the same. Nothing to do with Obama. Crude oil prices are lower than in2008. Oil companies are doing great. Maybe something to do with capitalism gone crazy. Just like banking.

[soccerdoll]

08:26 AM on 02/27/2012

People cut lots of expenses out during a recession. No story here, move on. Bet they kept their cell phone and cable though.

[athiesttoo]

08:42 AM on 02/27/2012

and some rural folks have no options. Since they upgraded the nations TV if you live in a valley you pay for satellite or you get nothing and in most cases a landline is as expensive as a cell phone doll.

[OkieMon]

07:52 AM on 02/27/2012

medicare for those who can afford health care and medicaid for those who can't.....and force the insurance corporations to go back to insuring houses and cars....

[OkieMon]

07:49 AM on 02/27/2012

the third and worse recesssion of the bush/chainy/repub presidency started in oct 07 and morphed into the bush/chainy/repub depression in july 08 which is with us today....fueled by their rigging of oil prices from 18 to 150 bucks a barrel the huge inflaiton from this rigging has destroyed consumer spending which destroys demand which destroys jobs....this oil inflaiton will be with us at least another 20 years destorying the dreams of a generation...and to think oil averaged 15 bucks a barrel for 25 plus years before the oil barons bush/chainy/repubs took over the whitehouse in 01....

[NevaforLeadership]

08:43 AM on 02/27/2012

No depression. The recession ended in June 2009.

That recession was fueled by sixteen years of Clinton/Bush extremely poor economic policies, the overriding scenario being masses of debt spending without sufficient savings or production to fuel the economy. All were complicit: individuals of all political persuasions, corporations, banks and governments.

As for oil, for now it fuels an unsustainable middle-class lifestyle. It is a limited and peaked resource. For that reason, be forewarned, it will continue to trend upward in price. It may go up and down to the vagaries of the commodities market, but the trend will be up and up.

[OkieMon]

09:54 AM on 02/27/2012

no recession/depression ? 50% of americans are struggling to make ends meet and the bottom 25% are talking revolution...what world do you live in ?

[DUSAA-1775]

09:15 AM on 02/27/2012

Mister Obama stated that not only does he want gas prices to rise, under his policies the cost of energy will necessarily sky-rocket.

It is known as hope and Change.

So all of you out there in the wilderness who are against Dear Leader's plans, must be bigots and racists.

[OkieMon]

09:53 AM on 02/27/2012

provide reputable link for your assertion....number of active oil rigs has tripled since obama came into office....

[Cheryl Statum Kobal]

07:37 AM on 02/27/2012

Two words, folks..NUTRITION PRESCRIPTION! I find the more money I spend on high quality whole foods like organic fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains, the healthier I am and the less I need "sickcare" services. Our system is designed to "manage disease and illness over a long period of time" by addressing symptoms with drugs and surgeries...not curing or PREVENTING disease. The only thing that can prevent and in many cases reverse disease, is a healthy plant-based diet. We've got to get away from this idea that doctors can fix us with magic pills, diagnostic tests and surgeries when we abuse and damage our bodies with toxic food and drink.

It amazes me how lost we have become in this country with our diet consisting of 65% processed foods and only 12% being fruits and vegetables (of which half of that is french fries!). People will spend money on luxury cars and McMansions, but will balk at the idea of spending money on high quality organic food. Our priorities are totally screwed up in the country...much to the profit of the Big Agriculture, Big Pharma and the healthcare industry.

[NevaforLeadership]

08:52 AM on 02/27/2012

x2

I will part company with you on the "plant-based diet" though. Human beings evolved to eat meat. Meatless diets can be very dangerous, particularly for people who do not understand the essential amino acids.

If the healthcare system were to change direction to focus on healthy diets (lean meat, fish, seafood, dairy products -- yes, dairy products -- fruit and vegetables) and daily exercise, the savings would be enormous.

I also believe a system such as Singapore's would be greatly beneficial. It is one of the best, if not the best, in the world. One reason it is so successful is that healthcare spending accountability rests in large part with the consumer -- no extraneous checkup, treatments or appointments.

[Cheryl Statum Kobal]

09:58 AM on 02/27/2012

We are not designed to eat meat. We are hunters/gatherers, eating meat only when no other energy sources could be found to avoid starvation. Our digestive tracts are not designed to consume animal products.
1. A carnivore's teeth are long, sharp and pointed and useful for the task of piercing into flesh. Man's teeth are not pointed, but flat edged for biting, crushing and grinding vegetation.
2. A carnivore's jaws move up and down and useful for the tasks of shearing, tearing flesh and swallowing it whole. Man's jaws cannot shear, but have good side to side and back to front motion for chewing, crushing and grinding of high fiber foods.
3. A carnivore's saliva does not contain digestive enzymes. Man's saliva contains carbohydrate digestive enzymes.
4. A carnivore's stomach secretes 10x the amount of HCL than a human. The pH is "1" so that E. Coli, salmonella, parasites or other pathogens can't survive. For humans, the pH ranges from 4-5; hence, man is often affected by these illnesses.
5. A carnivore's small intestine is 3-6 times the length of its trunk for rapid elimination of rotting food. Man's small intestines are 10-12 times the length of their body and keep food in it for long enough periods of time so that nutrients can be extracted from it before it enters the large intestine.

[Cheryl Statum Kobal]

10:03 AM on 02/27/2012

6. A carnivore's large intestine is short and smooth like a pipe and runs straight so fatty wastes high in cholesterol can slide out before they start to putrefy. Man's colon is puckered and designed to hold wastes that originally were foods high in water content so that the fluids can be extracted. Substances high in fat and cholesterol that have been putrefying for hours get stuck in these pockets.
7. Animal flesh requires vast amounts of uric acid to process. Uric acid is released into the system to break proteins down into amino acids. Uric acid is a toxic substance responsible for the aging process and must be flushed out via the liver. A carnivore's liver is designed to eliminate 10x as much uric acid as a man's liver.

Meatless diets are not dangerous -- consuming animal products is the #1 threat to your health. No one in this country has died from protein deficiency, yet millions have died from obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer caused by meat, dairy, processed and fast foods...all of which contain saturate fat and cholesterol and are calorie dense and void of essential nutrition.

You can obtain all necessary amino acids from a plant-based diet as well as protein, calcium, and iron. The human body absorbs a higher amount of these macro and micronutrients from plants than from animal sources. Additionally, animal products provide 0 of the 30,000+ phytonutrients essential to maintaining optimal health and preventing disease.

[Christina Belcher]

09:21 AM on 02/27/2012

While I agree with you on how important nutrition is I don't think you can separate a good, modern health system from it. Preventative care is important and can save lives. As to all ilnesses being cured by nutrition. I don't think so. I have autoimmune issues and live absolutely without processed food. I eat very healthy. Don't drink soda, or smoke. And I still need medical care.

Also, our life style is so unnatural, with everyone rushing about, never taking a break, I wonder how that relates to illness. But in a country where family leave is frowned upon, and people have to work two and three jobs to cover the basics, that debate leads nowhere.

[Cheryl Statum Kobal]

10:26 AM on 02/27/2012

Healthcare does one thing well and that is treat acute or sudden onset conditions like a broken bone, injuries from car wrecks, etc., so these services are needed. As for "preventative care" we can practice this through proper nutrition (which is 70% of the wellness equation) and exercise, sleep, stress reduction (factors you most correctly identified as being part of the wellness picture). This will go a long way to preventing, and in many cases reversing, CHRONIC diseases like obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer...all of which are PREVENTABLE. These diseases are jamming up our healthcare system because they are "managed" conditions over a long period of time which is lucrative to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

The bottom line is doctors are trained to diagnose and manage (not cure or prevent) disease and illness with medication and procedures. Only 5% of doctors take a class on nutrition for 3 credit hours, and 67% of doctors are overweight and don't feel comfortable discussing nutrition at all as a part of a treatment plan. Doctors don't get paid unless they diagnose a disease/condition with a billing code that will be paid by the insurance companies.

We need to take responsibility for our health and stop looking to a system of for-profit companies and individuals to fix us when we break due to the poor lifestyle choices. This is a matter of educating our population, something doctors are poorly prepared (or willing) to do.

[nam medic]

07:37 AM on 02/27/2012

Colon cancer is a slow death but how many seniors have died of Pneumonia this winter because their electicity was cut off? A local power company employee cuts off "between thirty and forty families a week" in one suburban middle class town of 37K people. How many 50 somethings are depressed because there are thousands of applicants and no jobs. And the available jobs are a small fraction of their prior salary. Dumb down your resume, give the house and car keys back to the bank, move back in with the parents. Welcome to the Brave New Depressing America!

[UpbyProxy]

08:04 AM on 02/27/2012

.

"...how many seniors have died of Pneumonia this winter because their electicity was cut off?..."

how many?

thanks
.

[Cully Waggoner]

07:33 AM on 02/27/2012

I have no Health Insurance, can't afford it. I tried doing Insurance sales and ran into a lot of other people in the same situation. So sad that Canada has better Healthcare for it's citizens than the U.S. does. But hey at least our millionaires get a tax break!

[frank day]

07:36 AM on 02/27/2012

Mexico has better healthcare than the U.S. does if you're one of the millions of

uninsured.

[savantpm]

07:41 AM on 02/27/2012

We are the ONLY industrialized nation in the WORLD without universal health care!