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Obese Women Missing Cancer Tests?
March 24, 2008 -- Obesity may be hindering some women from getting routine cancer screening.
That's according to a new review of 32 U.S. studies on breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and cervical cancer screening.
The review makes these three points:
- Overweight and obese women were less likely than leaner women to report recent cervical cancer screening.
- Overweight or obese white women were less likely than leaner white women to report getting a recent mammogram. That wasn't true for African-American women.
- Women's colorectal cancer screening rates were low, regardless of BMI (body mass index). The data were inconclusive about whether extra weight worsened those screening rates.
The review doesn't explain why obesity affects cancer screening rates. But the reviewers -- who included Sarah Cohen, MS, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Public Health -- have some theories.
Some women may be self-conscious about their weight, or they may dread getting lectured about their weight by their doctor, or they may be put off by gowns that are too small and other inconveniences in doctors' offices, Cohen's team notes.
Other factors, including health insurance and income, may also be involved.
It's important for all women to get routine cancer screening. Because extra weight is associated with increased risk of some cancers, Cohen and colleagues want to see more studies done to find ways to encourage heavier women to get cancer screening.
Cohen's review appears in today's advance online edition of Cancer and is due for publication in the journal's May 1 print edition.
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Important Safety Information
- KAPIDEX may not be right for everyone. You should not take KAPIDEX if you are allergic to KAPIDEX or any of its ingredients. Severe allergic reactions have been reported.
- Symptom relief does not rule out other serious stomach conditions.
- The most common side effects of KAPIDEX were diarrhea (4.8%), stomach pain (4.0%), nausea (2.9%), common cold (1.9%), vomiting (1.6%), and gas (1.6%). KAPIDEX and certain other medicines can affect each other. Before taking KAPIDEX, tell your doctor if you are taking ampicillin, atazanavir, digoxin, iron, ketoconazole, or tacrolimus. If you are taking KAPIDEX with warfarin, you may need to be monitored because serious risks could occur.
Uses of KAPIDEX
- Persistent heartburn two or more days a week, despite treatment and diet changes, could be acid reflux disease (ARD). Prescription KAPIDEX capsules are used in adults to treat heartburn related to ARD, to heal acid-related damage to the lining of the esophagus (called erosive esophagitis or EE), and to stop EE from coming back. Individual results may vary. Most damage (erosions) heals in 4–8 weeks.
Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional. Please see full Prescribing Information for KAPIDEX.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
KAPIDEX™ is a trademark of Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., and is used under license by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
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Ob-Gyn Laura Corio explains why women should not try to diagnose their own yeast infection.
