资源=更好的结果®
2026 Early Detection Survey
Routine cancer screening and medical appointment behaviors
Routine cancer screenings can help prevent cancer or catch it early, when treatment is most effective. Yet new data show fear of a diagnosis is no longer the only reason people are avoiding screenings.
Findings from the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s 2026 Early Detection Survey reveal that concern about the cost of routine cancer screenings now rivals the fear of being diagnosed with cancer. More than one in three U.S. adults who worry when thinking about screening say they are concerned about cost—up from 25% in 2025. As a result, 73% of adults report being behind on at least one routine cancer screening, with cost cited as one of the top reasons for falling behind.
Many routine cancer screenings are fully covered by private insurance plans, Medicaid and Medicare, meaning patients often pay nothing out of pocket. Confusion about coverage is creating unnecessary fear and missed opportunities for prevention. By closing information gaps and reinforcing that Early Detection = Better Outcomes®, we can help more people stay on track with screenings and achieve better health outcomes.
Research Methodology: The Prevent Cancer Foundation commissioned Atomik Research to conduct a survey of 7,000 U.S. adults 21 years of age and older1. Researchers implemented several demographic-based quotas in order to achieve ample characteristics, such as sex, age group classification, and race/ethnicity, that are similar to the overall U.S. population of adults 21 and older. The margin of error of the overall sample is +/- 1 percentage point with a confidence level of 95%. Fieldwork took place between January 22 and February 10 of 2025. Atomik Research is an independent market research agency.
1 The cancer screenings studied in this survey were for breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, oral cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer and testicular cancer.
See the 2025 Early Detection Survey results.