Posted on 02/23/2016 2:14:57 PM PST by originalbuckeye
TORONTO-New Canadian guidelines say colonoscopy should not be used for routine screening to detect colorectal cancer in patients with no symptoms or family history of the disease.
The guidelines from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care strongly recommend that low-risk patients aged 50 to 74 be screened using fecal occult blood tests every two years or sigmoidoscopy every 10 years.
Sigmoidoscopy involves the insertion of a flexible scope to view the lower portion of the colon and rectum rather than the entire tract, as is the case with colonoscopy.
The task force also advises against screening asymptomatic patients age 75-plus because of their reduced life expectancy and the lack of research showing benefit or potential harms of the tests.
Task force member Dr. Scott Klarenbach of the University of Alberta says the guidelines do not apply to high-risk patients who have symptoms or a family history of the disease.
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in men and the third leading cause of cancer deaths in women. In 2015, an estimated 25,000 Canadians were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and approximately 9,300 died from the disease.
"Although colonoscopy may offer clinical benefits that are similar to or greater than those associated with flexible sigmoidoscopy, direct evidence of its efficacy from randomized controlled trials in comparison to the other screening tests . . . is presently lacking," said Dr. Maria Bacchus, an internist at the University of Calgary who chaired the guideline working group.
"However, ongoing clinical trials are working to address this research gap," she said.
The new guidelines are based on the latest available research and update the task force's previous 2001 advice, which recommended fecal occult blood testing every one to two years or sigmoidoscopy every five years in asymptomatic adults.
The Canadian guideline is similar to the 2008 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation that adults aged 50 to 75 should be screened for colorectal cancer using a fecal occult blood test or flexible sigmoidoscopy.
While the U.S. group also recommended colonoscopy, its Canadian counterpart does not believe there is sufficient evidence to support that decision.
The Canadian task force was established to develop clinical practice guidelines for primary-care providers related to a variety of preventive-health issues, based on a systematic analysis of the most recent scientific evidence.
Colonoscopy saved my life. I had polyps. I have another polyp being removed on the March 10th.
I do not have a family history, but I had an illness back in the 80’s,
They removed 10 small polyps in November. Biopsy done and so far no cancer.
Get it done people. The prep is the worst part, but it is worth it.
73 year old brother-in-law is recovering as we post in a Philly hospital from laprascopic surgery to remove a small cancerous tumor in his colon. Right after Thanksgiving he became seriously ill with fever, weakness and delirium - taken to local hospital and found to have a blood infection which was fairly easily controlled with IV antibiotics - but infection control people told him that the strain of bacterium which had caused the infection was often associated with colon cancer - had a colonoscopy and small tumor was detected - no emergency, shopped around for a surgeon, just had operation last weekend - recovering well, no need at this time for chemo or radiation follow-up - not sure what it has to do with this post, except that improvements in diagnostic approaches are encouraging and that this was a nice catch by the infection control staff at south Jersey’s Atlanticare....
Lol
Here’s to you!
Thanks
I was not familiar with the term antistatin. I thought the collective for all of them was statin
I take lovostatin and need to read up on current thought
Thanks for those links. I have had more than a few colonoscopy procedures. (2 Polyps found on the first one, none since). My next procedure is scheduled for the end of March of this year. After reading those links, now I’m gonna think real HARD about not doing it.
Yes but a five year supply of dilaudid ampules ?
Now we’re talking.
I’m gonna need a referral
Learn something every day.
I love USAA.
About four years ago we had a bunch of tornadoes hit alabama. We lost power for about four days. I heard USAA was paying for losing frozen foods. I checked the policy and could not find the coverage. I called and they said it wasn’t specifically covered but they thought it would be good if they did cover it. No paperwork to file. Oral claim. Check two days later.
Different claim. A tree fell on my 10 year old S10. USAA said they would send an adjuster and if it appeared to be totaled, then they would have to send a senior adjuster. I reminded them that a tree had fallen on a 10 year old S10. USAA said they would just send the senior adjuster. I got a very nice settlement within five days.
I love USAA.
Are you saying fecal occult blood tests are no good?
Okay. Thanks for that.
Take care.
I wholehearted agree.
And when I see them say these aren’t necessary. I call B.S. as loudly as I can.
This is early preventative action. It’s the best way to live longer.
There is a similar controversy as to the merits of an annual mammography and aggressive biopsies as a way to detect and combat breast cancer. Expert opinion generally recognizes that such measures do more harm than good, with too many women unnecessarily suffering the risks of radiation and of unneeded breast biopsies and more extensive surgery. Indeed, it seems that the human body naturally eliminates many early stage tumors. In such instances, aggressive detection and surgery eliminates small tumors that would otherwise be disposed of by the body or kept from progressing.
Such findings, though well-considered and amply supported by facts, seem to leave little impression on the massive cancer screening industry. The screening labs for breast cancer and the associated fund-raising complex and its lavishly paid executives and advocates are especially powerful. Critics often get bullied and silenced, and some cancer researchers are said to have avoided the breast cancer field as too brutally political.
Two solid recommendations for USAA here spurred me to look up their website and bookmark it. Saw the health insurance page and posted the link to clear that up.
My reason for looking them up was for home insurance though. State Farm wants me to take several ridiculous measures to comply with their wild fire hazard standards. I’m willing to pay more so I don’t have to hack up my yard and move my firewood 25’ from the house.
Anyway, that’s why I looked them up. Don’t want to pull the thread off topic. I might look into their health insurance too.
I put it off and was scared to do it. I am so glad I did. The larger polyp due to be removed in March scared me, but they took a slice and said it was not cancerous.
I have one of the best doctors in the US that is going to do the job.
People should get this done. It is very important to do so!
I recommend their home insurance too. I also get travel insurance and boat insurance through one of their affiliates.
I had a couple of colonoscopies and it was actually a pleasant experience for me. The night before, you take a salty solution that really cleans you out after a couple days of low fiber diet. I had just started my new diet (of natural foods) before having my last one and I had a couple of 88% Dark Chocolate bars before my prep. Wow, did that help speed things along.
Then at the procedure, they give you some kind of "twilight" sedation and you don't even remember what happened even though you are awake all during it. Very weird.
Well since my last one, I've put nothing in my body but good foods since so hopefully I have the healthiest gut bacteria out there.
I got one done last year as well, in a local hospital. Claim amount a little under $7,000, which the insurance company knocked down to a little under $2,000. No co-pay by me. Included general anesthesia. (and I'm free of cancer, thankfully).
This was in PA.
Thanks. You’ve just given your fellow FReepers a great public service.
Go USAA!
I am still afraid, but I am so glad I had it done. The doctors I have worked with are just wonderful.
The prep sucks, but you are knocked out for the procedure, so it is worth it!
Yes they do. And dental as well.
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