Shane Jacobson, Chief Executive Officer of the American Cancer Society and Chief Executive Officer of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), shared on LinkedIn:
“A new American Cancer Society study led by Dr. Priti Bandi and our research team shows that adults with disabilities are being screened for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer at lower rates.
That finding is important, but what it means is even more important.
The reasons behind these disparities are not always simple. For some people, practical barriers get in the way. For others, the experience of screening itself may be difficult, complicated, or require tradeoffs that many of us never have to consider.
What this research makes clear is that we still have work to do if we want everyone to have a fair and just opportunity to benefit from advances in cancer prevention and early detection.
One finding stood out to me: stool testing for colorectal cancer was higher among people with substantial mobility difficulties. As Dr. Bandi notes, that may offer an important clue. When screening options are designed around people’s real lives and circumstances, they may help reduce barriers and make early detection more accessible.
Research like this helps us see where gaps remain. Just as importantly, it helps point us toward solutions.
At the American Cancer Society, we believe progress against cancer has to reach everyone. That means continuing to learn, listening to people’s lived experiences, and working with partners to remove barriers wherever we can.
Because progress only matters if people can benefit from it.
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