Computerized tomographic colonography (CTC), so-called virtual colonoscopy, proved accurate in locating colon polyps or cancers 10 millimeters or larger in a large study conducted in a number of community centers across the United States.  The x-ray-based test found 90 percent of l0 millimeter polyps identified by traditional colonoscopy, which uses a lighted tube inserted into the rectum to view the colon. Read the rest of this entry »

When patients were retested five years after a negative colonoscopy, none had colon or rectal cancer and very few had a worrisome advanced polyp. Read the rest of this entry »

When minority men and women felt that they were being discriminated against by their health care providers, they were less likely to be screened for breast or colorectal cancer. Read the rest of this entry »

Half of Americans over 50 have not been screened for colorectal cancer according to a new survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The 2005 National Health Survey interviewed 31,000 adults, including 13,500 who were over 50.  It found that 50 percent of people over the age of 50 had been screened for colorectal cancer, but the other half had not.  While this was an improvement over the 43 percent screening rate in 2000, it was far from desirable according to the researchers who analyzed the information. Read the rest of this entry »

Colonoscopy screening increased by 50 percent in New York City in the past five years, with the biggest increase occurring among minorities.

Much of the improvement is credited to a coalition of doctors, city officials, union workers, and hospital administrators belonging to the New York Citywide Colon Cancer Control Coalition, known as C5.

The Coalition adopted a single colorectal cancer screening recommendation:  all people of average risk over the age of 50 have a colonoscopy every ten years.  People with a family history or other risk factors would be screened more often.

Funding was available to cover the uninsured.

One factor that led to success was using patient navigators to help patients through each step of the process.  The bilingual navigators call patients to remind them of appointments, help them understand preparation for the procedure, and see that they have a ride home after their tests.  They now work in all ten city-run hospitals and another six hospitals in New York.

Overall, patient navigators have facilitated nearly 31,000 colonoscopies in the past five years.  In their first year, the rates of no-shows for colonoscopies dropped from 67 percent to 10 percent and screening rates tripled.

Rates of people over 50 who have had a colonoscopy rose from 2007 to 2003 from:

• 35 percent of African Americans to 64 percent
• 38 percent of Hispanics to 63.3 percent
• 48 percent of whites to 62.2 percent
• 25 percent of Asians to 53.6 percent

The C5 goal is to have 80 percent of New York City residents over the age of 50 screened with a colonoscopy by 2011.

Information about colonoscopy improvement was announced on June 5, 2008 by Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, New York City Health Commissioner.

SOURCE: Dan Hurley, More People Undergoing Colonoscopy, The New York Times, June 6, 2008.