Study blasts colorectal screening test

MSNBC ^ | 01/18/05 | Associated Press

[JusticeTalion]

Potentially cancerous growths missed 95 percent of the time

PHILADELPHIA - A common screening test failed to detect potentially cancerous colon growths 95 percent of the time, falsely reassuring patients and doctors, according to a new study.

Researchers found that the digital, in-office test on stool samples was not as reliable as a six-sample test given to patients to do on their own at home — although even that test detected potentially cancerous growths less than 24 percent of the time.

"What we found is that it was pretty worthless," Dr. David Lieberman, one of the study's authors, said of the in-office test. "It's a wake-up call that we shouldn't be relying on this test."

God bless our troops wherever they may be.

[Prime Choice]

As one recuperating from cancer, I take all types of cancer seriously...

...but my days of feeling like Kermit the Frog are over. The next soul who comes near me wearing a rubber glove saying the words "bend over" gets both their arms broken!

[Hildy]

I had it done about a month ago. I agree about the day leading up to it is worse than the procedure itself!

[sbelew]

It's my opinion that "colorectal" and "blasts" should never be used in the same sentence.

[Capt. Tom]

This disease just killed the CEO of McDonald's and he was only 44 years old.

[SierraWasp]

"God bless our troops wherever they may be."

While I share this heartfelt sentiment... What in the name of phony Chiropractic Colonics has this got to do with the danged story???

[JusticeTalion]

I meant "some way" other than the invasive colonoscopy (It takes 1 to 2 hours, requires sedatives, pain medication and, in rare cases, can cause bleeding and tearing of the intestines). Doesn't make me want to run right out for one. Not to mention they are only recommended every 10 years. "Some way" less intense, more often and more accurate than current techniques.

[mewzilla]

Ask for the pills. I refuse to drink that nasty stuff.

Pills?! They've got pills now?! Aaaaaargh.....

[Cogadh na Sith]

I do a bit of colorectal blasting myself.....

[mewzilla]

Whoa, that's a lot better than drinking mass quantities of that stuff that tasted like road salt. Heck, to my mind the colon prep was the worst part of the procedure. The pills sound much, much better.

[snopercod]

Colonoscope: Noun. A device used for looking up old friends. Coloq: "The Silver Stallion".

Another recent thread: Former McDonald's head Bell dies

[snopercod]

There is already a fantastic way to detect colon cancer: Colonoscopy.

My insurance won't pay the $3,000 cost of a screening colonosopy unless I have a positive Hemoccult test...by which time I would be already dead.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It's the AP school of Journalism.....lumps things together because....well,just because.....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Why are you on this thread anyway, ?

Cause of that article I posted on Dark Fiber?

[SierraWasp]

"Dark Fiber?"

Ernesto! You have simply GOT TO stop cracking me up like dis!!! I dunno what drew me to this thread and it's crappy topic, except that I think it was Mr. snopercod that done did it!!!

Him and his $3,K MRI and his lame inshurunce cumpany. Heck, snoper... I got me wunna them there Sigmoidoscopies when I was around yur age and my inshurunce cumpuny that I wuzza movin to, wanted ta know why a guy at my age wuzza doin sucha thang!!!

So I tole 'em that I wuzza big phan uv Ronaldus Maganus whose magnificent colon had been scrutinized by every member of the medja to the n'th degree all ovur TeeVee, and since I'd just gotten outta politicks, I figured that it wuzza wize thang ta git done at that there time in my life if'n I din't wanna leave a widowed wife, right?

I mean I wrote 'em a bigassed ol explanation like dat an dey bought it hook, line and stinker!!! Ha Ha Ha!!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I haven't had this experience as of yet.

But at my advanced age I suppose I should think about it.

But then I eat a lot of apples....

[television is just wrong]

I feel it is important to eat, so I have some just have to be careful. Apparently he felt I needed to know that.

[avitot]

colon cancer is one of the most preventable killers. some cancers srpead to quickly for adequate screening i.e. ovarian and small cell lung ca. mammography is a good but not perfect screen for breast ca, pap smears are the most effective screen( cervical cancer) .
problem with colon screening is that many people will not get colonoscopy- it is not pleasant, but there is a new screen -ct colonography that is much more palatable.