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What stands between people and cancer screening

Overview

The cancer questions show a clear gap between interest in screening and concern about the cost of care.


Adults broadly value noninvasive multi-cancer early detection tests, but the same cluster shows strong concern about the financial impact if cancer care is needed.

Stacked breakdown

74.9% call these tests very important for the healthcare system.

How important is it for the healthcare system to offer noninvasive multi-cancer early detection tests (e.g., Galleri, Cologuard)?

Not at all important
2.5%
Somewhat important
22.6%
Very important
74.9%

2026 · base n 1,000 · +/- 3.3%

Screening interest is high

A 74.9% share said it is very important for the healthcare system to offer noninvasive multi-cancer early detection tests.

Another 67.0% said they would be somewhat or very likely to complete one of these tests.

Stacked breakdown

81.3% say they would likely act on test results.

How likely are you to take action based on the results of a noninvasive multi-cancer early detection tests (e.g., Galleri, Cologuard)?

Very unlikely
1.5%
Somewhat unlikely
2.7%
Neutral
14.6%
Somewhat likely
29.3%
Very likely
52.0%

2026 · base n 1,000 · +/- 3.3%

Trust and follow-through shape the story

A 61.4% share agreed that they would trust the results of these tests as much as traditional cancer screening at a doctor's office.

An 81.3% share said they would be somewhat or very likely to take action based on the results.

Stacked breakdown

72.7% are very or extremely concerned about cancer-care costs.

If you or someone in your household needed cancer care, how concerned would you be about the financial impact on your household?

Not at all concerned
3.4%
Slightly concerned
6.6%
Moderately concerned
15.9%
Very concerned
25.7%
Extremely concerned
47.0%
Other
1.4%

2026 · base n 1,000 · +/- 3.3%

Cost concern remains high

A 72.7% share said they would be very or extremely concerned about the household financial impact if they or someone in their household needed cancer care.

Methodology

Full methodology
Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
Population
US adults age 18+
Field dates
2026-05-01 → 2026-05-04
Base (unweighted)
1,000
Margin of error
+/- 3.3%
Module
2
Sponsor
Verasight
Weight variable
weight
Weighting targets
age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

Sources

[5]

Citation

SBM Omnibus Survey #2026-049, fielded May 1-4, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.

https://reports.verasight.io/reports/sbm-2026#q-2-1

Verasight survey methodology

How Verasight conducts surveys.

This page describes the Verasight general survey contract, separate from how the Data Library packages it. Each wave's specific field dates, sample sizes, and module breakdown are listed in that wave's report.

Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting.
Population
US adults age 18+.
Sample design
Surveys are run as omnibus or single-topic waves. Omnibus waves are split into modules with their own respondent set, typically around one thousand respondents per module.
Field window
Each wave specifies its own field dates. Most omnibus waves field across roughly two weeks.
Weighting
Per-module weighting to CPS targets including age, race and ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, and metropolitan status.
Partisanship benchmark
Pew Research Center's NPORS benchmarking surveys, three-year running average.
Vote benchmark
2024 presidential vote population benchmarks.
Margin of error
Typically about plus or minus 3.4 to 3.6 percent per module at standard module sizes. Question-level MoE is recomputed when a base shrinks materially below the module baseline.
Reporting
Every wave is published as a standalone report at verasight.io/reports with full instrument and methodology.
Transparency
Verasight is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research Transparency Initiative.

Wave-specific methodology, full weighting variable lists, and verbatim instrument text live in each report at verasight.io/reports.