16,000 Lives Saved by Colon Cancer Screenings

The Centers for Disease Control says one in three US adults are not being screened for colon cancer, yet colorectal cancer is one of the top cancer killers. They say 66,000 colorectal cancer cases were prevented and 32,000 lives saved compared with the year 2002, and half of the lives saved were due to screenings. In 2007 142,000 Americans learned they had colon cancer and 53,000 died from it.

Screening can find the precancerous polyps and they can be removed before they become cancerous and spread. By 2020 CDC would like to have reached a colon cancer screening rate of 70.5% for American adults. If they can achieve that rate, they say an additional 1,000 deaths per year will be prevented.

They recommend the following tests:

A fecal occult blood test (FOBT), done at home – every year.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy done by a health care provider – every five years (accompanied by FOBT every three years).

Colonoscopy done by a health care provider – every 10 years.

People who should get screened more often are those between 50 and 75 years old, and anyone more at risk from getting intestinal disease because of polyps or a family history.

Some of the reasons CDC lists for why people don’t get screened are:

Doctor didn’t tell them to do so

Don’t have health insurance

Didn’t know risk increases with age

Fear of the test

Fear the results will be positive

Deaths from colon cancer dropped very much in four northern states it was reported recently. Screenings for the disease played a role in the decrease, and lower screen rates have been in states with no change in colon cancer deaths, “Compared with other geographic areas, southern states have a larger proportion of the population that is poor and uninsured, among whom screening rates are lower.” (Source: Reuters)

Image Credit: Public Domain

Read more: Health, General Health, Healthy Aging

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

J.L. A.

7:35AM PST on Mar 4, 2012

good to know

send a green star

Robert O.

8:10AM PST on Mar 1, 2012

I believe it. Thanks Jake.

Faith B.

10:26AM PDT on Oct 21, 2011

great article, thanks :)

Michele W.

7:39AM PDT on Oct 21, 2011

Thank you

Carole R.

7:23PM PDT on Oct 20, 2011

Good information. I had a colonoscopy and pre-cancerous tumors were romoved. This test saved my life. Do it!

Ida J.

6:40AM PDT on Sep 2, 2011

thanks

Eternal G.

6:54PM PDT on Jul 26, 2011

Good!

Kathie Z.

4:01PM PDT on Jul 19, 2011

I've done the stool cards and had the sigmoidoscopy, but no way can I afford a colonoscopy with no insurance. Actually, why bother with the tests if you can't afford the surgery if they do find something. Makes no sense to get healed only to find yourself penniless and homeless.

Cristine S.

3:55PM PDT on Jul 16, 2011

Oooh, scared of doctors, had to retire early, and no health insurance taboot! And now they talk of cutting medicare, which I don't have yet..what is USA doing to it's people, especially senior citizens...who need help more than ever...It seems that US is catering to the Wealthy only...this is NOT America, as I once knew it..No cost of living increase for those of us on Social Security...that is infair, I paid my due share of taxes all my life...and now so called golden years...are tarnished by the government & politics.USA should now be called "Un-united States of America!", I can't say I'm proud to be in the USA...It's an embarrasement, for many of us who are struggeling...and that is very sad, indeed.

Parvez Z.

3:09AM PDT on Jul 13, 2011

Thanks for the article its very important to have colonoscopy i go for regular checks and had colonoscopy done