(RALEIGH) --  The American Cancer Society, along with cancer experts across the nation, have promoted preventive cancer screenings as a way to cut cancer death rates, especially for breast, colon and prostate cancer. In the last decade, however, the number of people seeking those screenings has dropped. Chuck Reed, a spokesman for the Iowa chapter of the American Cancer Society, suggests that part of the reason is confusion.

"People aren't sure when to go in and get that first screening. I strongly urge everybody to visit the American Cancer Society website and get our recommendations for screenings, because I believe we have the best ones there."

Another reason for the drop may be that people fear bad news, Reed says, but early detection means a better chance of a cure. This news comes as new research from the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center finds that cancer survivors in rural areas are more likely to report they are in poor health, compared to survivors living in urban areas.

Reed adds that people need to be proactive about their health.

"We can help people if they just follow the advice we give, so if they do indeed find cancer, it's at an early stage. I'm more concerned about what's going to happen down the road, as far as finding cancers in more advanced stages."

If you haven't had a mammography by age 40, you need to go in, Reed says, adding that if you haven't had a colonoscopy by age 50 you need to get one. Other recommendations on when to get early cancer screenings are online at cancer.org.

(With Contribution from Stephanie Carson, North Carolina News Service)