Colon cancer testing underutilized
CLEVELAND, Jan 10, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) — A U.S. study found only 44 percent of colon cancer patients had undergone any type of screening procedure at least six months before their diagnosis.
Researchers from University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University also said 94 percent of colorectal cancer patients had never had a colonoscopy or had never had one prior to the procedure that resulted in their cancer diagnosis.
The study, which included more than 5,800 elderly colon cancer patients, is published in the Feb. 15 edition of Cancer, a journal of the American Cancer Society.
Colon cancer screening is recommended for all older adults and researchers believe death rates are reduced when premalignant growths — such as polyps — are detected and removed during a routine screening colonoscopy.
Other less comprehensive colon cancer tests include the fecal occult blood test, a sigmoidoscopy and barium enema.
“We have highlighted the underuse of colorectal procedures in clinical practice, which is relevant given the high incidence and mortality of colorectal carcinoma in the United States,” the authors wrote.