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Early Detection of Cancer
General practitioners play an important role in screening for cancer especially skin, cervical, breast and colorectal cancer (CRC). This involves intervention in general practice as well as facilitating patients attending population screening programs
Barriers to screening for cancer include concerns about the cost, radiation, embarrassment, poor access including travel difficulties, anxiety about test results, inconvenience, forgetting or procrastination, and discomfort associated with the screening test.
Some cancers are more common in low socioeconomic groups. Older women and women living in low socioeconomic areas have a higher incidence of cervical cancer. Oral cancer is more prevalent among low socioeconomic groups. Low income and less educated patients are less likely to be screened and more likely to be diagnosed with late.
There is also evidence to suggest that low socioeconomic groups are less likely to be screened for cancer and to have attended health services for a Pap test. This is not corrected by increased access to general practice. There is also evidence to suggest that women of low socioeconomic status are less likely to have attended health services for a mammogram.
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