NEW YORK, April 5 (UPI) -- New York City's average colonoscopy rate rose to 67 percent in 2007 from 42 percent in 2003, city health officials said.
"Colonoscopy screening saves lives," Dr. Thomas Farley, New York City health commissioner said in a statement. "Two-thirds of New Yorkers are getting screening, but one-third is not. If you're (age) 50 or older or belong to a higher risk group, call 311 to find a screening location, and encourage friends and loved ones to do the same."
A citywide push to increase screening rates eliminated racial disparities during the same time period.
Colonoscopy rates in the Asian community were on par with African-Americans, whites and Hispanics for the first time in 2010, Farley said.
However, the colonoscopy rate among Russian-speaking New Yorkers trails behind the citywide rate.
"Colonoscopy screening is largely unheard of in the Russian-speaking community," New York state Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny said. "Until recently, colon and rectal cancer prevention programs did not exist in Russia. Russian-Americans are simply unaware of this beneficial procedure. The Russian-speaking population in New York needs to be informed of colonoscopy screening and the ability of preventing colon and rectal cancers."
