Table 3 Attitudes about Continuing Cancer Screening Later in Life

For themselves

I will likely die of some other disease besides cancer.

86 (81)

29 (80)

33 (73)

I will continue cancer screening no matter how uncomfortable the tests are.

84 (77)

28 (78)

35 (77)

I plan to get screened for colon cancer for as long as I live.

76 (72)§

22 (61)

33 (74)

I plan to get screened for breast/prostate cancer for as long as I live.

85 (83)¶

29 (80)

40 (88)

I will consider getting screened for cancer even if my doctor recommends against it.

47 (43)

19 (53)

26 (58)*

It takes several years for cancer screening to benefit people.

28 (25)

10 (29)

13 (29)

I will not live long enough to benefit from cancer screening tests.

15 (13)

10 (28)*

5 (11)

I will not get cancer screening even if my doctor recommends it.

4 (4)

1 (3)

1(2)

Cancer screening is not worth the trouble.

3 (3)

1 (3)

1 (2)

Everyone should get screened for colon cancer for as long as they live.

64 (55)

22 (61)

31 (69)*

Everyone should get screened for breast/prostate cancer for as long as they live.

73 (63)

23 (64)

41 (91)*

Screening for cancer in people over the age of 70 may waste healthcare time and money.

34 (30)

12 (34)

10 (22)

As people get older, other health issues are more important than cancer screening.

56 (50)

18 (50)

16 (36)*

People in nursing homes should not get cancers screening.

30 (26)

9 (25)

9 (21)

People over 70 who are totally dependent on someone else for daily functions such as eating, bathing, and toileting should not get cancer screening.

50 (44)

15 (43)

18 (40)

People with Alzheimer's disease or dementia should not get cancer screening.

51 (44)

18 (50)

18 (41)