March is colorectal cancer awareness month. According to the center for disease control and prevention, colorectal cancer screening saves lives. Although many Americans are being screened regularly for cancer, the figures are still not as high as the authorities would like. The goals set for 3 cancer screenings recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were not met in 2010, according to a report published in the January 27 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Overall, the breast cancer screening rate at 72.4% was far below the target of 81.1%, the cervical cancer screening rate was 83.0% compared to the target of 93.0%, and the worst was for colorectal cancer which was 58.6% while the target was 70.5%. If everyone aged 50 years old or older were screened regularly, as many as 60% of deaths from this cancer could be avoided.

A new American College of Physicians (ACP) guidance statement recommends individualized assessment of risk for colorectal cancer (CRC) in all adults and that encourages adults to get screened for starting at the age of 50. The new recommendations and an accompanying patient summary appear in the March 6 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. You can download them HERE

Specific ACP recommendations include the following:

Clinicians should perform individualized CRC risk evaluation in all adults. Risk factors for CRC incidence and mortality include older age; black race; personal history of polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, or CRC; and family history of CRC.
Clinicians should screen for CRC in adults at average risk beginning at 50 years of age, and in adults at high risk beginning at 40 years of age or at 10 years younger than the age at which the youngest affected relative was diagnosed with CRC. In these populations, the potential benefits of reduced mortality from earlier detection of CRC outweigh the potential harms of screening.
Patients at average risk may undergo CRC screening with a stool-based test, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or optical colonoscopy. Patients at high risk should undergo screening with optical colonoscopy. The benefits, harms, and availability of the specific screening test, as well as patient preferences, should affect choice of screening test. For adults older than 50 years who are at average risk, the recommended screening interval is 10 years for colonoscopy; 5 years for flexible sigmoidoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, and double contrast barium enema; and annually for fecal occult blood test.
Clinicians should stop CRC screening in adults older than 75 years or who have a life expectancy of less than 10 years because the potential harms of screening outweigh the potential benefits. Risks of colonoscopy include bleeding, intestinal perforation, and adverse reactions related to preparation for the procedure.

The bottom line is get screened especially if you have a family history.

• Previous Entry: Dr. Timothy Chen joins The Farber Center
• Next Entry: Evidence Links Meat to Higher Risk for Colon Cancer