The state of Illinois has higher rates of deaths resulting from colorectal cancer, breast cancer, coronary heart disease, influenza, and pneumonia among women. Illinois ranks 37 in influenza and pneumonia deaths among women, 35 in coronary heart disease, 44 in breast cancer, and 49 in colorectal cancer. Based on the statistics provided, colorectal cancer is the leading cause of mortality among women in Illinois. In addition, the state is ranked among the lowest in terms of the number of women who have recently been screened for colorectal cancer. The fact that the state ranks in the middle in pap smears, cholesterol screening, and mammograms indicate that the services are not adequately provided or utilized.
According to CDC (2020), there is strong and adequate evidence that shows screening for colorectal cancer reduces the disease incidence and rates of death through early disease detection when treatment can be more effective or through prevention by removing precancerous polyps. Based on the Illinois statistics, proving colonoscopy services, sigmoidoscopy, and stool-based tests such as fecal occult tests, CTC, and FIT-DNA ARE recommended. However, even with the provision of the services, screening rates may not adequately utilize. As noted by CDC (2020), despite making CRC screening tests available, a significant number of Americans are not screened. In 2016, for example, only 67.3 percent of men and women between the ages of 50 and 75 were screened as recommended. Therefore, to ensure that the screening services for colorectal cancer are utilized by age-appropriate women (50-75 years), healthcare staff should encourage the women to have screening tests at the facility.
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Most women (87 percent) have health insurance, which means that the tests are covered. However, there are a small percentage (13 percent) of Illinois women who are not insured. Therefore, the facility should provide the services free of charge to age-appropriate uninsured and underinsured women who are residents of Illinois. In addition, women under the age of 50 years but with a family history of colorectal cancer should be given free tests if they are not insured. The Illinois statistics provided indicate mortality rates disparities with the highest mortality rates in non-Hispanic Blacks (23.6), non-Hispanic Whites (15.8), and Hispanics (8.2). Disparities in CRC mortality is related to socioeconomic reasons, insurance status, and geography (CDC, 2020). In colorectal cancer screening, the disparities related to screening exist among individuals with low income or education. Therefore, providing free screening services for the uninsured and underinsured will ensure that the disparities are eliminated.
Besides mammogram services offered by the facility to detect breast cancer, b reast Magnetic Resonance Imaging can also be used to enhance screening procedures for women who are at very high risk for breast cancer. A breast cancer prevention program would also benefit women who are at risk of cancer. Such a program would make available specialists in breast cancer prevention. Such specialists include physicians, nurses, counselors in cancer risk and genetics, and dieticians. Providing genetic counseling services may help identify risks for inheriting cancer, screening and management of people at high risk. Illinois ranks 44 in breast cancer mortality rates. This indicates that the rates in the state are high, and this necessitates the need for not only screening but preventive measures for those at risk. To improve breast cancer outcomes and chances of survival, detecting cancer at an early stage is critical. The early detection techniques are screening for breast cancer and early diagnosis (CDC, 2020).
The healthcare facility should give priority to early diagnosis programs that are based on creating awareness of signs and symptoms at an early stage for diagnosis and treatment. The high mortality rates related to breast cancer among Illinois women are caused by a cancer diagnosis at a late stage when treatment may not be effective. Limited resources likely cause the situation for early detection and screening in healthcare facilities. Early diagnosis focus on offering timely access to treatment by minimizing healthcare barriers or enhancing access to effective diagnosis (CDC, 2020). The goal of identifying the disease at an early stage in the healthcare facility is to ensure that most breast cancers are detected early, allow effective treatment, and reduce the risk of Illinois women dying from breast cancer. Therefore, to reduce breast cancer mortality rates, screening and early diagnosis services should be put into place in the facility and provide screening at no cost.
Coronary heart disease is also among the highest contributors to mortality in Illinois women. According to the statistics, the state’s total stands at 110. There are disparities in mortality rates with non-Hispanic Blacks (154.5) leading. In addition, the figures indicate an increased incidence of coronary heart disease factors such as obesity and lack of physical education, among others. Coronary artery disease prevention is mainly through the control of risk factors ( Danaei & Rahimi, 2020 ). Therefore, health education for at-risk groups at the health care facility is recommended. Identifying women at risk of the disease, encouraging them to have cholesterol tests, and health education is critical. The last recommendation is encouraging the uptake of flu vaccine for age-appropriate women in order to prevent deaths resulting from influenza and associated complications such as pneumonia. Evidence shows that flu vaccine is effective in preventing influenza in people aged 65 years and above who are at risk of dying from associated complications such as pneumonia ( Gazibara et al., 2019 ). Therefore, ensuring that they receive the vaccine as recommended at the facility can help reduce the number of deaths caused by the disease.
References
Danaei, G., & Rahimi, K. (2020). Coronary heart disease: Epidemiology and prevention. Oxford Textbook of Medicine , 3603-3616. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198746690.003.0365
CDC ( 2020, June 16). Division of cancer prevention and control at a glance . https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/aag/dcpc.htm
Gazibara, T., Kovacevic, N., Kisic-Tepavcevic, D., Nurkovic, S., Kurtagic, I., Gazibara, T., & Pekmezovic, T. (2019). Flu vaccination among older persons: Study of knowledge and practices. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition , 38 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-018-0159-8
