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News
Millions of US adults with disabilities are missing out on life-saving cancer screenings, a new study in Cancer reveals. Screening rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers are significantly lower among people with disabilities — with cervical cancer screening dropping from 78% to just 37% in those with severe self-care limitations. The silver lining? At-home stool testing for colorectal cancer is actually more common among people with mobility disabilities, pointing to a promising path forward.
A new study published in Cancer reveals a stark and troubling gap: millions of US adults living with disabilities are significantly less likely to receive routine cancer screenings compared to those without disabilities. Researchers used data from the 2021 and 2023 National Health Interview Surveys to assess screening rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers across disability types — including vision, hearing, mobility, cognition, and self-care limitations.
The disparities were sharpest among people with substantial self-care disabilities. Cervical cancer screening rates dropped from ~78% in people without disabilities to just 37% in those with severe self-care limitations — a gap comparable to having no health insurance at all. Breast and colorectal cancer screening rates were similarly depressed. But there's a bright spot: at-home stool testing for colorectal cancer was 24% more prevalent among people with significant mobility disabilities, suggesting that flexible, accessible screening formats could help close the gap.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: People with disabilities remain at risk for cancer, yet preventive care is routinely deprioritized in this population. Physicians are urged to proactively offer at-home testing options and ensure that disability-focused care doesn't crowd out essential cancer screening conversations.
