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People recommended for screening tests for one cancer can be reminded about other relevant screenings. It's a simple way to increase adherence to potentially life-saving tests.

In a new study, Thomas Jefferson University researchers investigate the potential for this kind of intervention for patients enrolled in a lung cancer screening program directed by Julie Barta, MD, an associate professor at Sidney Kimmel Medical College.

The paper is published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

The study participants were women ages 50–75 who smoke or have a significant smoking history, says Meghan Maceyko, MD, a fourth-year general surgery resident. The recommendation is that they get an annual chest CT (computed tomography) to check for lung diseases, including cancer.

As smokers, these older women are also at heightened risk for breast cancer. "Smoking is a risk factor for all cancers," Maceyko says.

The study looked retrospectively at the patients' electronic health records to see whether the women had gotten a mammogram in the two years before their lung cancer screening. The researchers examined patient characteristics and found that women with a greater smoking history and those with previous cancer diagnoses were more likely to be overdue for breast cancer screening.

Thus, the highest-risk patients seemed to have the lowest adherence to recommended screenings, which points to a "critical gap in preventive care," the researchers observed.

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