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Colonoscopy Blog
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Patients Prefer More Invasive Form of Colon Scan: Study
Posted 5 days ago by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, May 22 – Patients undergoing colonoscopies frequently complain about having the procedure, which involves threading a camera through the colon to detect precancerous or cancerous growths. But a new study has found that patients overwhelmingly preferred colonoscopy to the less invasive and less time-consuming CT-based colon scan. Colonoscopy has long been the standard of care for colon cancer screening. Computed tomography (CT) colonography – sometimes called "virtual colonoscopy" – is a newer technology and involves simply scanning the abdomen to look for abnormalities. Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world but can largely be prevented with adequate screening. For this study, 90 patients at average risk for colon cancer underwent CT colonography followed by a colonoscopy within the following two hours. They then answered 13 questions regarding their ... Read more
Related support groups: Colonoscopy, Colorectal Cancer, Computed Tomography, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
Colonoscopy May Detect Curable Cancer in Elderly: Study
Posted 5 days ago by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, May 22 – Colonoscopies helped doctors detect a high rate of curable cancer in elderly people who had the screening for the first time, a new study indicates. The findings suggest that screenings should be made available to otherwise healthy elderly people who have never been tested, Dr. Therese Kerwel, research fellow at Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners, and colleagues from Spectrum Health Medical Group in Grand Rapids, Mich., concluded. For the study, the investigators examined information on 903 outpatient colonoscopies among elderly patients. Specifically, they investigated why these people, aged 76 to 85, underwent a colonoscopy and analyzed the results of the screenings. The study revealed that patients who had never had a colonoscopy before had a cancer rate of 9.4 percent, much higher than those who had had the procedure before. The findings are scheduled for ... Read more
Related support groups: Colonoscopy, Colorectal Cancer, Diagnosis and Investigation, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
Study Supports Value of Sigmoidoscopy, an Alternative to Colonoscopy
Posted 6 days ago by Drugs.com
MONDAY, May 21 – New research confirms that sigmoidoscopies – less-invasive alternatives to colonoscopies that don't require sedation – are effective in lowering the risk of colon cancer. Having the procedure lowered the risk of getting a colon cancer diagnosis by 21 percent and the chances of dying from the disease by 26 percent, the researchers reported. Many doctors no longer offer sigmoidoscopies, but an editorial accompanying the study pointed out that sigmoidoscopies are still a good option for some patients. "Physicians need to find out which colorectal cancer screening test the patient sitting in front of them will do, and recommend that test," said editorial author Dr. John Inadomi, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. "It's the test the patient wants to do – not the test the doctor wants them to do – that is important." ... Read more
Related support groups: Colonoscopy
Many Patients Skip Recommended Colonoscopy: Study
Posted 10 Apr 2012 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, April 10 – Although a colonoscopy is considered the "gold standard" for colon cancer screening, a new study finds that many patients are reluctant to have the test. Patients are more likely to opt for a simple fecal occult blood test – a brief part of a medical exam – that checks for bleeding, which can be a sign of colon cancer, the researchers said. "The best test is the one that the patient actually performs," said lead researcher Dr. John Inadomi, a distinguished professor and head of the division of gastroenterology at the University of Washington, in Seattle. "We should not assume that all patients prefer colonoscopy; therefore, patient preferences should be elicited to determine the test to which they are most likely to adhere," he said. The main difference between the two tests, Inadomi said, is that a fecal occult blood test should be done every year, while for most ... Read more
Related support groups: Colonoscopy
Inadequate Bowel Prep May Invalidate Colonoscopy
Posted 29 Mar 2012 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, March 29 – Doctors may fail to detect precancerous growths if patients' colons aren't adequately cleansed before having a colonoscopy, a new study warns. On the day before a colonoscopy, patients are instructed to stop eating solid food and to consume only clear liquids. They also drink bowel-cleansing mixtures to empty the colon. However, previous research suggests that up to one-quarter of colonoscopy patients fail to adequately cleanse their colons. The new study, from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, examined the potential consequences of poor bowel preparation. Researchers identified 373 patients who underwent a colonoscopy between 2004 and 2009, and had inadequate bowel preparation. Of the 133 patients who later had a second colonoscopy, nearly 34 percent had at least one precancerous growth detected in the repeat screening. Nearly one in five ... Read more
Related support groups: MiraLax, Colonoscopy, Dulcolax, Polyethylene Glycol 3350, Bisacodyl, MoviPrep, Bowel Preparation, Fleet Enema, Senokot, Senna, Suprep, TriLyte, GoLYTELY, Polyethylene Glycol 3350 With Electrolytes, ClearLax
Too Many Americans Skipping Colon Cancer Screening
Posted 2 Mar 2012 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, March 2 – Approximately one in three U.S. adults between the ages of 50 and 75 who should be screened for colorectal cancer have not been, according to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. As National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month kicks off, the society is reminding older adults about the benefits of a colonoscopy exam to screen for colorectal cancer, which is largely preventable, while offering tips on getting screened. "Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers because the majority of colorectal cancers arise from precancerous growths in the colon called polyps, which can be found during a colonoscopy screening exam and removed before they turn into cancer," Dr. Gregory Ginsberg, president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), said in a society news release. ASGE experts say everyone should be screened starting at ... Read more
Related support groups: Colonoscopy, Colorectal Cancer
In Tougher Economy, Fewer Americans Get Colonoscopy
Posted 24 Feb 2012 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, Feb. 24 – Fewer people opted for potentially lifesaving colonoscopies to screen for colon cancer during the recent economic recession, largely because they couldn't afford to pay high out-of-pocket costs often associated with this test, new research finds. During the recession of December 2007 to June 2009, about 500,000 fewer Americans who had health insurance underwent a screening colonoscopy, compared to the two years before the recession began. The study findings appear in the March issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. "In difficult economic times, people are more likely to forgo necessary medical services if there are high out-of-pocket costs," said study author Dr. Spencer Dorn, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And "colonoscopy is never the most popular ... Read more
Related support groups: Colonoscopy
Study Supports CT-Based 'Virtual' Colonoscopy to Spot Colon Cancer
Posted 23 Feb 2012 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Feb. 23 – Noninvasive, CT-guided "virtual" colonoscopy is similar to standard colonoscopy in its ability to detect colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps in people 65 and older, a new study finds. Virtual colonoscopy, also called CT colonography, uses virtual-reality technology to produce 3-D images of the patient's colon and rectum. While preferred by many patients, its effectiveness in comparison with invasive colonoscopy has been debated. Patients using CT colonography must undergo a pre-procedure intestinal purge, similar to patients having a traditional colonoscopy. The new findings, published online Feb. 23 in Radiology, support the effectiveness of CT colonography as a frontline colorectal cancer screening tool for seniors, according to the study's authors. The findings also come on the heels of two studies, published this week in the New England Journal of ... Read more
Related support groups: Colonoscopy, Colorectal Cancer
Studies Offer More Evidence That Colonoscopy Saves Lives
Posted 22 Feb 2012 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 22 – It's been found that removing precancerous polyps during colonoscopies can prevent deadly malignancies from developing. Now, new long-term research supports the idea that the screening test not only prevents colorectal cancers, but dramatically cuts deaths from the disease. Analyzing the results of the National Polyp Study – which followed about 2,600 patients whose precancerous polyps were taken out during colonoscopies for up to 23 years – researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and colleagues found that this course of action netted a 53 percent drop in colon and rectal cancer mortality compared to deaths expected among similar patients in the general population. "This is very strong evidence that provides assurance that there is a long-term benefit to removing these polyps," said lead author Ann Zauber, a biostatistician at ... Read more
Related support groups: Colonoscopy, Colorectal Cancer
Worries About Colonoscopy Unfounded: Study
Posted 19 Feb 2012 by Drugs.com
SUNDAY, Feb. 19 – Even though a colonoscopy is an important colorectal cancer screening procedure that can save lives, many people have unfounded worries about the test and avoid it, an expert says. "A colonoscopy is an amazing tool that allows us to see how healthy our insides are," Dr. Christine Hachem, an assistant professor of internal medicine and a gastroenterologist at Saint Louis University, said in a university news release. "While you may feel anxious about the procedure, a discussion with your doctor can ease many of your concerns." She outlined a number of reasons for having a colonoscopy, including the fact that the simple 20-minute test could save your life. A colonoscopy can help identify people at risk of developing colorectal cancer. Waiting until signs or symptoms develop can prove fatal. During the procedure, your doctor may discover and remove precancerous polyps. ... Read more
Related support groups: Colonoscopy
Resolve to Take Colon Cancer Test, Experts Say
Posted 6 Jan 2012 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, Jan. 6 – If you're 50 or older, consider making it a new year goal to get screened for colorectal cancer, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy suggests. Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers because most cases arise from precancerous growths in the colon called polyps. These can be found during a screening exam and removed before they turn into cancer. Recent research has confirmed that screening is one reason why colorectal cancer death rates are declining, according to an ASGE news release. Compared to 2002, about 66,000 cases of colorectal cancer were prevented and 32,000 lives were saved in the United States between 2003 and 2007, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Half of the prevented cases and deaths were the result of screening. However, one in three U.S. adults isn't screened for colorectal cancer, which ... Read more
Related support groups: Colonoscopy, Colorectal Cancer
Virtual Colonoscopy Still Has Its Skeptics
Posted 12 Sep 2011 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Sept. 12 – Whether the most technologically advanced way to check for colon cancer will become the standard screening method of the future does not appear to be a slam-dunk. The method, known as virtual colonoscopy, combines X-ray and computer technology to create three-dimensional views of the full length of the colon, the large intestine. It allows doctors to look for polyps, or pre-cancerous growths, or other signs of cancer or other intestinal disease. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, virtual colonoscopy can be done with computed tomography (called a CT or CAT scan) or with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Colon cancer is one of the few types of preventable cancer, with doctors able to find and remove pre-cancerous polyps in the colon before cancer can develop. The current "gold standard" procedure for colon cancer screening, however, is colonoscopy, a ... Read more
Related support groups: Colonoscopy
Proper Bowel Prep Key to Effective Colon Cancer Screening: Study
Posted 15 Jun 2011 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, June 15 – Inadequate bowel-cleansing before a colonoscopy can result in high miss rates for precancerous polyps (adenomas) and a need for earlier repeat tests, a new study finds. "Our findings of a miss rate of 42 percent for all adenomas and 27 percent for advanced adenomas suggest that suboptimal bowel preparation has a substantial harmful impact on the effectiveness of colonoscopy, and follow-up examination within one year should be considered," said study lead author Dr. Benjamin Lebwohl of Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. Since colorectal cancer develops slowly over time, effective screening and early detection of the disease is key to a patient's survival. Colonoscopy screening enables doctors to identify and remove precancerous polyps (small growths in the colon) before they turn into cancer. In order for this procedure to be effective, however, ... Read more
Related support groups: Colonoscopy, Bowel Preparation
A Capsule Camera Instead of a Colonoscopy?
Posted 10 May 2011 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, May 10 – A new technology that uses a remote-controlled capsule camera to scan the inside of the colon may one day be an alternative to colonoscopy, a new study suggests. Researchers from Japan's Osaka Medical College have developed a "self-propelled capsule endoscope" that can be inserted into the anus and driven through the colon via remote control and a magnetic field, capturing images along the way. Similar capsule cameras are currently used to scout out problems in the small intestine, said Dr. Durado Brooks, director of colorectal cancer for the American Cancer Society. Patients swallow the capsule, which then moves through the digestive system much in the same way that food does, recording images of the inside of the intestine. But capsules haven't worked as well in looking for problems in the colon, Brooks noted. Part of the reason is that the colon has many nooks and ... Read more
Related support groups: Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy Better Than Alternative at Spotting Cancer in Seniors: Study
Posted 10 May 2011 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, May 10 – Colonoscopy is significantly better than the less expensive screening procedure called sigmoidoscopy at detecting colon cancer in older patients, a new study says. "We imagined there would be some difference, but there's a four-fold difference" between the two screening tests when it comes to detecting cancer, said study lead author Dr. Yize Richard Wang, a fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. "Colonoscopy still remains the gold standard," added Wang, a health economist. In the United States, colon cancer kills more than 51,000 people a year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Screening helps identify cancer before symptoms appear, when it may be easier to treat. Colonoscopy, the most common screening test for colon cancer, involves threading a scope with a tiny camera through the length of the colon. But patients can also choose flexible ... Read more
Related support groups: Colonoscopy