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.
STATS CANADA:
CANADIANS AVERAGE 18 MONTHS WAIT FOR CRITICAL PROCEDURES.
Skip a colonoscopy? Saves money for Canada but sure won’t save lives.
“RICH” CANADIANS COME TO THE USA FOR CRITICAL CARE,
...Then continue to bad-mouth us when they get home.
I am sorry she died so young too, her sister lived to be almost 116 and was the oldest person in the US when she died in about 1996.
Which is why Canadians were coming over the border for procedures that they’d have to wait 9 months to have. God forbid you find a lump and have to wait months to have it looked at.
If you didn’t want it seen as a challenge you shouldn’t have mentioned your candidate.
Yeah...the means smearing my my crap on a card.
Getting old is not fun.
Hospital bills seldom bear any resemblance to their real world cost.
I think you have too many 0’s in there.
I was certain I still had my appendix before I went through that.
Now, not so much.
“I wasn’t polyps free. I’ve had them removed twice.”
They find polyps evertime I have one. First time I had one of those sigmoidoscopy thingies. Had to redo the prep procedure and go back the next week for a colonoscopy. I make damn sure I only have to do the prep once each time now.
It’s all based on statistics. If the smear test is cheaper and just effective, I don’t have an issue with it.
But since I had polyps, I get the every five year plan.
BINGO! Back when the medical industry was a doctor/patient relationship, life saving tests were necessary. When the govt pays for it, well, it might not be all that necessary. This applies to all kinds of tests for men and women. Long term, this will result in people developing cancer and dying because the govt doesn’t want to pay for the screenings.
But you can bet the rulers will have all the tests done and paid for by our tax dollars.
Friend of mine put off the colonoscopy until he was 60. No history in his family of cancer there. Doc found that he had cancer and had to start treatments immediately. Saved his life.
For $33K they should have given you a blue ray of the procedure.
Skeeter...
The whole forum knew where you were headed there.
I responded by saying I am very happy with my candidate’s position.
I didn’t say my candidate came out for it first.
A handful of almonds every two days will keep ya clean.
That is a ridiculous $ number. Cost data for this highly routinized procedure is available on line - I know, I checked before I had my done. My brother is currently dying from colorectal cancer. They found it during a colonoscopy, but then screwed up the operation contributing to a rapid metastasis.
“He (trump) has advocated lowering state lines so insurance companies can compete nation-wide for our insurance dollars, and provide better care to attract our business.”
That means a federalized system of insurance. One of the reasons policies are different in different states is that each state can require a different set of coverage. Only one way around that is establishing a federal standard.
Second issue. Sure, insurance is cheaper in some states but you only live in one state. Insurance in Alabama will be cheaper than insurance in New York. Do you want to drive across country for treatment?
Uh huh. Then me advocating for mine should not offend you.
I hear ya. LoL
Here drink this swimming pool dry.
Lived to 116?
Astonishing !
You have great genes.
.
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