Colorectal Cancer Screening

Excluding skin cancer, colorectal cancer is this third most common type of cancer in the United States.  An estimated 106,680 new cases of colon cancer and 41,930 new cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed in 2006, according to the American Cancer Society.  More than 90% of those diagnosed with this disease are over the age of 50.

Colorectal cancer tends to progress slowly, making it highly preventable and treatable if caught early.  The five-year survival rate for early stage diagnosis is over 90%.  But unfortunately, only 39% of colorectal cancers are found early.  The disease is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US, with more than 55,000 deaths annually.  

At The Center for Colorectal Health, our goal is to significantly reduce—if not eradicate—that statistic by screening at-risk patients annually with fecal occult blood tests (FOBT).  The Minnesota Colon Cancer Control Study, which followed 46,000 patients over 18 years, found that annual FOBT screenings reduce the risk of death from colon cancer by 33%. ¹

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that men and women with no known risk factors begin getting regular screenings at age 50.  For FOBT, the only non-invasive screening method available, the ACS recommends screening on an annual basis.  Patients with increased risk are not indicated for this method and typically require colonoscopy.

Next: Screening Comparison