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ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF COLON CANCERSCREENING COMPARED TO BREAST CANCER SCREENINGIN WOMEN IN EAST HARLEM, NYJennifer A. Christie, M.D., Lina Jandorf, M.A., Steven Itzkowitz, M.D.*.Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify potential barriers to colonand breast cancer screening in minority women and determine how thesebarriers may affect screening practices.Methods: Women over the age of 50 were recruited from communityhealth fairs, medical clinics, and tenants’ association meetings in EastHarlem. A survey instrument was administered to the women on site or viatelephone at the convenience of the participant. The data is a subset of alarger data set.Results: Eighty-one women over the age of 50 participated in the study,mean age was 67. The ethnic distribution was 51%, 45%, and 5%, AfricanAmerican, Hispanic, and other, respectively. Women agreed that cancerscreening decreases mortality rates (Figure 1). Breast and colon cancerscreening practices differed significantly in that physicians were morelikely to recommend mammography which correlated with 98% having hadthe test. Conversely, significantly fewer women ever had sigmoidoscopy orcolonoscopy recommended to them which was associated with only 48%ever having either test (Table 1). 92% reported that they would have acolonoscopy if their physician determines it is important. 54% reported thatthey would only have a colonoscopy if they have symptoms.

Table 1. Breast and Colon Cancer Screening Practices

*FOBT(% yes)

Sigmoidoscopy(% yes)

Colonoscopy(% yes)

Mammography(% yes)

Doctor explained test 75 44 33 84Doctor recommended test 84 41 33 89Ever had screening test 83 36 28 98

* Fecal Occult Blood Test

Attitudes Toward Cancer Screening

Conclusions: 1) Minority women understand the importance of cancerscreening. However, they are more likely to undergo breast rather thancolon cancer screening. 2) In minority women, colon cancer screening lagsfar behind breast cancer screening in part due to lack of physician recom-mendation. 3) Primary care physicians should use breast cancer screeningpractices as a model for improving colon cancer screening rates in thispopulation.

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THERE ARE NO DIFFERENCES IN COLONOSCOPICFINDINGS OF NEOPLASIA IN ASYMPTOMATIC ANDSYMPTOMATIC WOMENAnupma Jati, M.D., Savitha Jala, M.D., Timothy Hoops, M.D.,James Lewis, M.D., Radhika Srinivasan, M.D.*. University ofPennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.

Purpose: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related death in men and women. Prior studies have suggested that mostsymptoms are poor predictors for presence of colonic neoplasia. Data onwomen patients is scant when compared to male patients. Our aim was tocompare colonoscopic findings of neoplasia in women who are asymptom-atic (Group I) and symptomatic (Group II).Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of womenundergoing colonoscopy at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center-Presbyterian for any reason from January through December 2002. Patientswere identified from the computerized endoscopy database. Women withpre-existing inflammatory bowel disease were excluded.Results: Table 1 lists baseline characteristics and table 2 lists the colono-scopic findings in both groups of women.

Baseline characteristics in both groups

Characteristics Group I Group II

Total Number 70 345Mean Age 65 61Age Range 50–87 20–97Asian 1 4African Americans 43 227Whites 26 94Other/Unknown Race 0 20Cecal Intubation 67 335

Colonoscopic findings in both groups

Findings Group I (%) Group II (%) p value

Normal 16 (22.9) 53 (15.4) 0.08Neoplasia total number 22 (31.4) 86 (24.9) 0.25- Cancer 1 (1.4) 3 (0.9)- High grade dysplasia 3 (4.3) 19 (5.5)- Villous histology 0 0- Size 10 mm or more 0 19 (5.5)- Adenoma 18 (25.7) 45 (13.0)Diverticulosis 32 (45.7) 155 (45) 0.90Angiodysplasia 1 (1.4) 12 (3.5) 0.36Hemorrhoids 21 (30) 135 (39) 0.15Colitis 0 5 (1.4) 0.31

Findings not significantly different between the two groups

Conclusions: Both asymptomatic and symptomatic women had similarfindings at colonoscopy. Common symptoms of change in bowel habits,anemia and blood in stool were not associated with presence of colonicneoplasia.

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COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING : COMPARISONBETWEEN WOMEN VETERANS AND NON-VETERANSTai-Ping Lee, M.D., Indira Reddy, M.D., Garfield Samuels, M.D.,Shyamala Karuvannur, M.D., Holland Joanne, M.D.*. Northport VAMedical Center, Northport, NY.

Purpose: Studies had shown that women were less likely to undergosigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening. Lack ofeducation and poor acceptability of screening procedures are cited for thisdiscrepancy. This study is to compare the compliance of colorectal cancerscreening between women veterans and non-veterans.

S125AJG – September, Suppl., 2003 Abstracts