Date of Award
4-27-2017
Document Type
Capstone
Department
Mathematics
First Advisor
James White
Second Advisor
Season Ellison
Third Advisor
Jeffrey Ueland
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States behind lung cancer, so research is needed about this particular cancer (American Cancer Society, 2016). With medical advancements over the past decade, doctors are able to detect cancer symptoms earlier and treat cancers more readily. By compiling the medical record data for the Midwest and the Northeast, a picture can be painted that shows the prevalence of screenings in each region, and the mortality rates of those regions based on the amount of screenings done. The aim of this study is to examine the current colorectal cancer (CRC) screening processes and treatments between the Midwest and New England regions. This thesis establishes statistical lineage between these two regions in an attempt to analyze the success rate of standard procedures used to deal with colorectal cancer. After considerable data analysis, it can be noted that states with better CRC screening rates showed cancer incidence rates 5% to 20% lower than the national average, and mortality rates 6% to 15% lower than the national average for colon cancer. Further research is needed to determine whether these lower averages are directly caused by higher screening rates or if this is just simply a statistical parallel.
Recommended Citation
Buhrman, Charles, "Colorectal Cancer Screenings in the United States" (2017). Honors Capstones. 11.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/honors-cap/11
