Housing Status and Cancer Screening in US Veterans.

Summary: Cancer is a major killer among people experiencing homelessness, often because it is caught too late. In a massive study of over 2.5 million U.S. Veterans, researchers looked at whether housing status affected cancer screening rates. They found that while the Veterans Affairs (VA) system provides crucial care, homeless Veterans were still significantly less likely to get screened for colon and breast cancer compared to housed Veterans. They were also less likely to get a necessary follow-up procedure after a positive test. However, once a biopsy was scheduled, the wait times were the same for both groups, suggesting that while access is harder, the quality of care remains consistent once they are in the door.