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Health & Fitness

March Is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Are You Up To Date On Screening?

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and second most common cause of cancer death in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that there were 141,210 new diagnoses and 49,380 deaths associated with colorectal cancer in 2011. Incidence and death rates have decreased since the 1980s, which has been attributed to increased screening and colonoscopic removal of pre-cancerous polyps. Despite evidence for its effectiveness, only half of the U.S. population over the age of 50 has undergone recommended screening.

Colorectal cancer screening guidelines published by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, U.S. Multi-Society Task Force, and American College of Gastroenterology recommend initiating screening at age 50 years in individuals at average-risk and earlier for those at higher risk. Recommended screening tests include colonoscopy every 10 years, flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, and annual stool occult blood tests.

Screening allows for early detection of colorectal cancer, which is more likely to be cured and associated with faster recovery when diagnosed at an earlier stage. Five-year survival is 90% if the cancer is localized at diagnosis, but this drops to 10% if it has already spread. Unfortunately, less than 40% of colorectal cancers are found early.

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Screening also helps prevent the development of colorectal cancer through the removal of pre-cancerous polyps with colonoscopy. Polyps are common and are found in a third of individuals undergoing screening colonoscopies. Once removed, the risk of the polyp becoming cancerous is eliminated.

A recent long-term study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that patients who underwent colonoscopy with removal of polyps had 43% less colorectal cancers and 68% less deaths from colorectal cancer when compared to patients who did not undergo colonoscopies. A separate study showed that patients who underwent annual stool occult blood test also had 32% fewer deaths associated with colorectal cancer.

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Colorectal cancer is a common and deadly disease, yet many cases may be preventable with proper screening. Learning the facts is the first step. Discussing it with your doctor is the next, so be sure to ask your doctor about screening at your next visit.

By Dr. Vu-James, Esse Health St. Louis Gastroenterology Consultants

10012 Kennerly Rd., St. Louis, MO  63128

Phone: 314.543.5200

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