Colon Cancer Rates in United States Fall as Screenings Rise
Prevention efforts are having an impact on the second most deadly cancer in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says colon cancer deaths are down and more progress is possible.
CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden says colon cancer rates have decreased by more than 10% over the past five years. The Vital Signs report, which looked specifically at the rate of deaths between 2003 and 2007, shows a more than 2% drop nationally.
Between 2002 and 2010, the rate of screenings increased by 13%. But the report says 1 in 3 people between the ages of 50 and 75 are still not up to date with the recommended screening. Dr. Frieden says as more doctors are clearer with their patients about the importance of screening , that will make a big impact on patients. He says the strongest risk factor for not being screened, is not being told to be screened by your doctor.
Dr. Frieden says you should be screened if you are between the ages of 50 or 75, or if you have a strong family history of the disease. Screenings include annual fecal occult blood tests done at home, a flexible sigmoidoscopy done every five years, or a colonoscopy done every 10 years.
Dr. Frieden says he has a strong family history of colorectal cancer and was first screened with a colonoscopy at age 40. He says his first screening was normal, but during the next screening at age 50, four polyps were found. All were removed before they became cancerous.
Dr. Frieden says colon cancer screening can save your life, and more and more Americans are taking advantage of the screening.
The full report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/
