Isles fail in study
on colon cancer tests
An American Cancer Society evaluation of activity nationally on five cancer-related issues shows Hawaii failing in access to screening for colon cancer.
An estimated 613 island residents will be diagnosed with colon cancer this year and another 200 will die from it, according to the society.
"Deaths from colon cancer can be reduced by as much as 80 percent if people receive the recommended screenings," said Dr. Brian Issell, president of the American Cancer Society Board in Hawaii.
The Cancer Society used a color-coded system to measure how well states are doing in five areas. Green represents the society's benchmark position, yellow indicates progress toward the goal, and red means states are falling short.
Hawaii scored red in access to potentially life-saving colon cancer screenings because there are no state requirements for insurance coverage, the cancer society reported.
Hawaii met the society's goals in two areas with green scores: The state's tobacco excise tax of $1.40 is above the national average of 79 cents and ninth highest in the country and Hawaii spends more than 50 percent of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control's minimum recommended funding level for tobacco control programs.
Hawaii received yellow scores in evaluations of Medicaid coverage for smoking cessation and preserving insurance coverage for cancer screenings.
American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org