Tagged with “screening”

ACG Updates Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines

In their new colorectal screening guidelines, the American College of Gastroenterology, says that colonoscopy, beginning at age 50 and performed every 10 years, is the “preferred” screening test for colorectal cancer. They recommend that physicians first offer this test alone rather than a menu of options.

However, if patients are not willing to have a colonoscopy, they support offering:

Preferably. a cancer prevention test: Either flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 to 10 years or CT colonography every 5 years.
A test primarily for cancer detection: Preferred test is fecal immunohistochemical test for blood (FIT).

They further recommend that African Americans begin testing at 45 rather than 50. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on March 18th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 2 Comments »
Tags: colonoscopy, screening

Friend Turning 50? Send a Card from Peter and Polly Polyp

peterpolyp Send a birthday reminder to a friend turning fifty — or older — letting them know that colorectal cancer screening can save their life.

Free musical online cards feature Peter and Polly Polyp and are personalized with your name, your friend’s name, and any special message that you want to send.

Friends don’t let friends forget about polyps!

Posted by Kate Murphy on March 13th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: screening

Wyoming Asks: Pledge to Screen for Colorectal Cancer

wyomingprogram Men and women in Wyoming are encouraged to take the 2009 Pledge to Screen for Colorectal Cancer. People who complete the pledge receive information and a blue “buddy bracelet” to remind them to be screened.

Residents of Wyoming who are uninsured or whose insurance doesn’t cover colonoscopy screening may be eligible for the Wyoming Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Program (WCCEDP). Eligible residents have lived in Wyoming at least one year, have incomes below 250 percent of poverty, and are over 50. People under 50 can also participate if they have special family or personal health histories. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on March 11th, 2009
Posted in: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags: colorectal cancer awareness, screening

Looking Out For the Symptoms of Colon Cancer

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.

Posted by Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD on January 5th, 2009
Posted in: From the Desk of Dr. Lenz | 3 Comments »
Tags: colonoscopy, Preventing Colorectal Cancer, screening, symptoms

Holiday and Birthday Reminders Increase Screenings

People are more likely to get a colorectal cancer screening if it is scheduled during December or around their birthdays. Norwegians who received an invitation from the Norwegian Colorectal Cancer Prevention Trial to come in for a sigmoidoscopy in December kept that appointment more often than in any other month.