Risk of colorectal cancer extremely low 5 years after a normal colonoscopy screeningSeptember 23, 2008A study appearing in the Sept. 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine shows that among individuals with no colorectal neoplasia (abnormal growths) on initial screening colonoscopy, the five-year risk of colorectal cancer is extremely low. The data provides support for rescreening at an interval of five years or longer after a normal colonoscopic examination. "This research is very significant as it is the first large study to provide direct rescreening data on a group of average risk patients who had normal findings on the initial screening colonoscopy," said John L. Petrini, MD, FASGE, president, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). "As a result, physicians should consider this important finding when recommending a rescreening schedule to their patients, as this data could have an impact on the costs of colonoscopy and the resources to provide for colonoscopy. There is data suggesting that the procedure may be performed too frequently." Researchers, led by Thomas F. Imperiale, MD, of the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute, examined 1,256 asymptomatic patients 50 years or older, who had no precancerous or cancerous findings on baseline colonoscopy and who underwent follow up colonoscopy at five years. Among this patient population, no cancers were discovered. Advanced adenomas were found in 16 patients (1.3 percent). ASGE and American Cancer Society colorectal cancer screening guidelines for patients with normal findings on the initial screening colonoscopy recommend repeat screening for average risk individuals every 10 years if they have no symptoms or family history risk. While this data does not directly evaluate the 10-year recommendation, it does establish that colonoscopy screening does not need to be repeated before five years for average risk individuals. An estimated 49,960 deaths are expected to occur from colorectal cancer in 2008. According to a study released in October 2007 from the CDC and the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer deaths dropped nearly 5 percent between 2002 and 2004, more than the other major cancer killers (prostate, breast, and lung). Among the key factors playing a role in the decline was prevention through screening and the removal of precancerous polyps. "This is excellent news and reinforces the importance of colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 50, or even younger if there is a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps," said Petrini. "Colonoscopy plays a very important role in colorectal cancer screening and prevention because it is the only method that allows us to remove polyps before they turn into cancer." American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy |
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| Related Colorectal Cancer Current Events and Colorectal Cancer News Articles 'Cross-talk' mechanism contributes to colorectal cancer Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health have identified a molecular mechanism that allows two powerful signaling pathways to interact and begin a process leading to colorectal tumors. African-Americans with colorectal cancer have poorer outcomes, lower survival rates New research published in the November issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons shows that African-American patients with colorectal cancer are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced disease and are less likely to undergo surgical procedures compared with Caucasians, suggesting that improvements in screening and rates of operation may reduce differences in colorectal cancer outcomes for African-Americans. Colon cancer screening more effective earlier in day, UCLA study finds The effectiveness of a screening colonoscopy may depend on the time of day it is performed. According to a new UCLA study, early-morning colonoscopies yielded more polyps per patient than later screenings, and fewer polyps were found hour by hour as the day progressed. 1 disease, not 1 demographic The Asian continent has nearly four billion people living in 47 different countries, and each of these groups has their own unique set of health issues. But when they come to the United States, they're often lumped into one large demographic: "Asian/Pacific Islander." Study shows unsedated colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening well accepted by patients Researchers from Taiwan report in a new study that unsedated colonoscopy for primary colorectal cancer screening is well accepted in a majority of patients. M. D. Anderson redefines screening guidelines for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers Drawing on years of experience in cancer research and patient care, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center released today the most comprehensive, risk-based screening guidelines publicly available to date for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers. The bowels of infection Current research suggests that latent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may exacerbate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The related report by Onyeagocha et al, "Latent cytomegalovirus infection exacerbates experimental colitis," appears in the November 2009 issue of The American Journal of Pathology. How to Lower Costs, Waiting Times for Colonoscopies Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, leading to over 50,000 fatalities every year. Excess body weight causes over 124,000 new cancers a year in Europe At least 124,000 new cancers in 2008 in Europe may have been caused by excess body weight, according to estimates from a new modelling study. Adding cetuximab to chemotherapy reduces advanced lung cancer death risk by 13 percent Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who are given cetuximab (Erbitux) in addition to chemotherapy are 13% less likely to die than those who receive chemotherapy alone, regardless of which chemotherapy drug cocktail is used, new research finds. They also experience slower disease progression and an increased chance of tumour shrinkage. More Colorectal Cancer Current Events and Colorectal Cancer News Articles |
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