Cancer screening more effective with telephone outreach

The results of a new study say that screening for certain types of cancer among the African-American population can be quite a bit more effective when telephone outreach methods are used.

In the study, 27% of people contacted by telephone went for a cancer screening within six months -- compared to just over 6% of those who only received information in the mail.

Those figures alone point to a very successful rate of getting certain segments of the population to be screened for different types of cancer. Additionally, with African Americans being at a much greater risk of colorectal cancer than any other ethnic groups in the U.S., the success of phone consultations is great news in many respects.