One of the discussions at GI Symposium was whether virtual colonoscopy is ready for prime time. What is that? Well, it is a CT scan which evaluates the colon for polyps and other changes instead of using a scope to enter the colon and look directly.
It is often misunderstood that the preparation for these two procedures are different. They are not. You need a clean colon whether you get a CT colonoscopy or a real one. Read the rest of this entry »
Colorectal cancer develops with few, if any, symptoms at first.
It depends a little on the location of the colon cancer. If the cancer is closer to the anus (left side), symptoms may include blood in or on the stool, a change in bowel habits, stools that are narrower than usual and general weakness and weight loss. These symptoms are more typical for colon cancer and physicians would easily recommend a colonoscopy for further work up. However if the tumor is on the right side, almost a foot away from the anus, the symptoms may be more general such as unexplained stomach discomfort, frequent gas, pains, or indigestion, unexplained weight loss and chronic fatigue.
Image from AGA Institute
It’s important to have standards for quality colonoscopy and to be sure that quality measures are included in doctors’ reports after each procedure.
In light of the recently published study showing colonoscopy impact on deaths from colorectal cancer, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) points out the value of documenting and reporting key indicators for a quality colonoscopy after every procedure. Read the rest of this entry »
Even if the reduction in deaths from colorectal cancer proves to be lower than previously expected, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) says that quality colonoscopy is still the best strategy for the detection of polyps and cancer. Read the rest of this entry »
The percentage of colorectal cancer deaths prevented by colonoscopy may be overestimated.
While still very effective in preventing colorectal cancer and deaths from the disease, limits of the test may be larger than previously thought. Patients need to know that having colonoscopy does not guarantee that they won’t get colorectal cancer.
Experts now say that screening colonoscopy may reduce death from colorectal cancer by 60 to 70 percent and may not keep patients from dying from cancers on the right side of their colons at all.
A new Canadian study found that some people who died of colorectal cancer had a colonoscopy in the years before their cancer diagnosis. A previous completed colonoscopy reduced chances of dying from colorectal cancer by two thirds in patients with cancers on the left side of their colons but did not decrease risk of death among those with right-sided cancers. Read the rest of this entry »
