How to Persuade a Loved One to Get a Cancer Screening

(LifeWire) - They are uncomfortable. Or too costly. Or they take too much time.

These excuses, and countless others, all seem like good reasons for avoiding annual cancer screenings. Cancer screenings, though, are one of the most important tools for detection, early treatment and increased survival rates from cancer. Persuading a loved one to undergo a cancer screening isn't easy, but it can save their life.

Avoidance

There are numerous reasons for avoiding cancer screenings, but understanding the main arguments may encourage people to go to the doctor:

• Lack of knowledge: Research suggests that although people are aware that cancer screenings are available, most don't know the recommended schedules for screenings. According to a 2006 survey conducted by the National Cancer Institute, 57% of women said they were "unaware that they should receive mammograms to screen for breast cancer beginning at age 40." The same study reported that only 60% of those surveyed knew the name of the screening for colorectal cancer.
• Fear and worry: Research suggests that fear and worry play a role in the avoidance of cancer screenings, particularly among African Americans and Hispanics. For example, a 2004 study published in the Journal of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty in Higher Education found that 60% of African American and Caribbean men avoided prostate cancer screenings, because they "feared impotence and incontinence after treatment if diagnosed."
• Cost: Many individuals worry about being able to afford cancer screenings. According to a 2005 study, more than 50% of women said cost kept them from getting a mammogram. The study pointed out, though, that 40% wrongly assumed that their insurance did not cover the test.

Education

According to the research, one of the keys for getting people in for screenings is simple education. If you are trying to encourage a loved one to schedule a screening, print off a list of the recommendations and sit down to talk about the benefits of screening. The National Cancer Institute provides information regarding their recommendations and also the benefits of each test.

If cost is a barrier, talk with your doctor, local hospital and health department about programs that can assist you. Many hospitals and health departments offer financial assistance for certain tests, particularly mammograms and cervical cancer screenings. The Centers for Disease Control maintains a website to help consumers find low-cost or free mammograms.

Persuasion

If your loved one still resists screening, researchers have found several tactics that can help.

• Conspire with your doctor: One study found that intervention letters mailed by physicians' offices encouraged people to get their screenings. The 2008 study reported that 15% of individuals who received a letter, which included information about obtaining a test, went ahead with the screening compared with 4% in the control group.
• Find a celebrity: Many associations and organizations have long used celebrities as their spokespeople, hoping to engage the public. This tactic has been proven to be successful. An Australian study found that after Kylie Minogue, a singer and actress, revealed her breast cancer diagnosis, "screening bookings rose 40%."
• Put yourself out there: Offer to schedule your screenings along with your loved one. Knowing that you are doing it together offers a bit of comfort, especially if your loved one is worried about the results.

If you or your loved one has been resisting making that cancer screening appointment, remember the reasons why professionals recommend these appointments: if cancer is found early, treatment is usually more successful, the cancer is less likely to have spread to other parts of the body and you will usually have more treatment options.

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