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| |  Colorectal Cancer Screening Increases Life Expectancy CHICAGO, IL -- November 3, 1997 -- An analysis of the life-saving benefits of colorectal cancer screening, presented to the 62nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, showed without proper screening, colorectal cancer decreases life expectancy by more than eight months for adults in their early 50's. John Inadomi, MD of the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque, NM, found screening programs can extend life expectancy, especially in younger individuals. His study found screening colonoscopy could increase life expectancy by almost five months for adults 50 to 54. For those aged 50 to 54, the extension of life benefit is more dramatic than in those 70 to 74, but for both groups a positive benefit was identified. The benefit of colonoscopy screening on improved life expectancy is two times longer than that of flexible sigmoidoscopy and three times longer than annual stool blood tests. The analysis used a mathematical model know as DEALE -- declining exponential approximation of life expectancy -- to measure the impact of colorectal cancer screening. Dr. Inadomi and his colleagues drew on the Vital Statistics of the United States as their source for the colorectal cancer death rate in the U.S. and reviewed the medical literature for findings on the decrease in mortality for various colorectal cancer screening modalities. Their model assumed a decrease in mortality from annual blood stool tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy of 18 percent, 30 percent and 59 percent respectively. The researchers then compared life expectancy with and without screening interventions. Colorectal cancer is America's number-two cancer killer, second only to lung cancer and surpassing both breast and prostate cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 132,000 new cases will be detected in 1997 and 54,000 will die. Most colon cancers develop from benign polyps. Early removal of polyps during screening can eliminate most colon cancers. For normal risk individuals, screening tests should begin at age 50 and consist of annual stool test for blood and a flexible sigmoidoscopic exam every three to five years. Screening colonoscopy every one to two years is recommended for individuals at higher than normal risk for colon cancer, including those with a past history of colorectal cancer, family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease. For both average and high risk individuals, all potential pre-cancerous polyps must be removed.
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