# What stands between people and cancer screening

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/health/what-stands-between-people-and-cancer-screening/
Published: 2026-05-29

> Featured topic in Health.

Adults express interest in noninvasive cancer screening, while cancer-care costs remain a major household concern.

## Overview: Cancer screening and cost

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.

## 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.

## 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.

## 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.

## Supporting evidence

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

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

Note: Three-quarters said it is very important for the healthcare system to offer noninvasive multi-cancer early detection tests.

Topline:

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

### 81.3% say they would likely act on test results.

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

Note: More than eight-in-ten said they would be somewhat or very likely to take action based on test results.

Topline:

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

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

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

Note: Nearly three-quarters said they would be very or extremely concerned about the household financial impact of cancer care.

Topline:

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

## 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

- [How important is it for the healthcare system to offer noninvasive multi-cancer early detection tests (e.g., Galleri, Cologuard)?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-B.1): reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026: Three-quarters said it is very important for the healthcare system to offer noninvasive multi-cancer early detection tests.
- [How likely are you to complete a noninvasive multi-cancer early detection test (e.g., Galleri, Cologuard)?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-B.2): reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026: About two-thirds said they would be somewhat or very likely to complete a noninvasive multi-cancer early detection test.
- [To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "I would trust the results of noninvasive multi-cancer early detection tests (e.g., Galleri, Cologuard) as much as a traditional cancer screening at my doctor's office."](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-B.3): reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026: About six-in-ten said they would trust the results of these tests as much as traditional cancer screening at a doctor's office.
- [How likely are you to take action based on the results of a noninvasive multi-cancer early detection tests (e.g., Galleri, Cologuard)?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-B.4): reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026: More than eight-in-ten said they would be somewhat or very likely to take action based on test results.
- [If you or someone in your household needed cancer care, how concerned would you be about the financial impact on your household?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-B.5): reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026: Nearly three-quarters said they would be very or extremely concerned about the household financial impact of cancer care.

## Citation

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

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-B.1](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-B.1)