|
E-mail this page to a friend!
Senior Citizen Health & Medicine
Colorectal Cancer Screening to at Least Age 84
Appears Essential for Elderly
Obesity greater colorectal cancer risk factor for
women than smoking; this cancer differs in minorities
Oct. 15, 2007 - As people get older, their risk of
developing polyps and colorectal cancer increases. Currently, there is
no clear evidence or established guideline for the upper age limit for
colorectal cancer screening by colonoscopy. Two new studies presented at
the American College of Gastroenterologys 72nd Annual Scientific
Meeting suggest continued colorectal cancer screening among healthy
elderly Americans.
| |
Related Stories |
|
| |
Decline in Cancer Death Rate Has Doubled Says New
Report
Cancer organizations, CDC join effort to present
good news to the nation
Oct. 15, 2007
Xeloda
Tablet Improves Survival Rate from Colon Cancer Versus Chemo
Oral medicine approved in U.S. to also treat
metastatic breast cancer
Oct. 8, 2007
Experts Debunk Fears, Misconceptions about Colon
Cancer and Screening
12 myths about No. 1 cause of cancer death among
non-smokers
Feb. 26, 2007
Senior Citizens Taking NSAIDS Like Aspirin Reduce
Risk of Colorectal Cancer
Safer drugs needed before therapy can be
recommended, researchers say
July 24, 2007
Avastin Cancer Drug Extends Survival for Patients
with Deadly Brain Tumors
Shrinks tumors by cutting off blood supply; used,
too, on lung, colorectal cancers
Feb. 20, 2007
Read the latest news on Senior
Health & Medicine |
|
Dr. Matthew M. Baichi and his colleagues from the
University of Buffalo and the VA Western New York analyzed the results
of 587 colonoscopies performed at their institution in 2004. Fifty-six
patients were age 80 or older and 531 patients were younger than 80.
Researchers collected data on the number and location of adenomas,
histology, presence of advanced adenomas, and colon cancer.
In this Buffalo study, colorectal adenomas were
detected more frequently in older patients. Adenomas were found in 35.7
percent of patients age 80 or older and 20.4 percent of patients younger
than 80. There was a trend for more proximal advanced adenomas in
patients over 80 (12.5 percent) compared to those younger than 80 (6
percent). After a 2.5-year follow-up, 72 percent of patients over the
age of 80 were alive compared to 82 percent of patients between the ages
of 70 and 79.
While screening colonoscopy is controversial in
patients over 80, age alone should not be a contraindication to
colorectal cancer screening, says Dr. Baichi. The results of this
study suggest screening colonoscopy should be considered in healthy
elderly patients.
Screening Leads to Earlier Stage of CRC Diagnosis
in Elderly Patients and Improves Survival
In separate research conducted at Scripps Clinic in
La Jolla, CA, Emily G. Singh, MD, Catherine T. Frenette, MD, and
Williamson B. Strum, MD, found that screening colonoscopy improves
survival in elderly patients. The critical question for these
researchers was whether screening colonoscopy leads to earlier stage of
colorectal cancer diagnosis in the elderly, and thus improves survival
in older patients.
The Scripps analysis included 243 symptomatic and
113 asymptomatic patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer between
January 2000 and December 2005. Patient records were obtained from the
Scripps Green Hospital Cancer Registry.
Patients were divided into two groups based on
symptoms and by age and stage of disease at diagnosis. The stages of
colon cancer were separated at a critical point: early stage (Stage 0
IIB) and late stage (Stage III IV).
Researchers found 101 patients had stage I colon
cancer, 105 patients were diagnosed with Stage II colon cancer, 72 with
Stage III, and 61 patients had stage IV colon cancer. The survival rates
of all patients were evaluated from the time of initial colon cancer
diagnosis.
| |
Other Presentations
|
|
| |
Obesity strongest risk factor for colorectal cancer
among women; greater than smoking
Oct. 15, 2007 Another study presented found that obesity, among other
important risk factors, was the strongest risk factor for colorectal
cancer in women.
Joseph C. Anderson, MD of Stony Brook University in
New York (and the University of Connecticut) and his colleagues examined
data from 1,252 women who underwent colonoscopy. They classified
patients according to their age, smoking history, family history of
colorectal cancer, and body mass index (BMI).
Obesity was defined as a BMI of 30 or higher. For
smoking, patients were divided into three groups: heavy exposure, low
exposure, and no exposure. Patients who were in the heavy exposure group
included women who had smoked more than 10 pack years and who were
currently smoking or had quit in the past 10 years.
Although smoking posed a significant increased risk
for colorectal neoplasia, researchers found that for women, obesity was
the highest attributable risk factor for developing the disease. BMI
accounted for one-fifth of all significant polyps detected during
colonoscopy. Of those patients who had colorectal neoplasia, 20 percent
were obese and 14 percent were smokers.
Given the increasing number of obese patients in
the U.S., identifying them as high risk may have important screening
implications, said Dr. Anderson. While obesity is positively
associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, patients who
lower their BMI could potentially reduce their risk of developing the
disease in the future.
Racial and ethnic differences in colorectal cancer
Oct. 15, 2007 The importance of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among
racial and ethnic minorities, who have a higher incidence of colorectal
cancer compared to Caucasians. Two studies found more African-Americans
had advanced polyps on the right side of the colon than Caucasians,
while results from colonoscopy screenings of Latin Americans revealed
similarly high risk findings to African-Americans.
|
|
After a two and a half year follow-up, researchers
found asymptomatic patients had significantly improved survival compared
to symptomatic patients.
There was a sustained difference in stage of
disease favoring patients who were asymptomatic, for all ages between 50
and 84, suggesting a role for preventive screening even among those of
advancing age.
According to Dr. Emily Singh, We conclude that
there is a role for screening colonoscopy in asymptomatic individuals
without significant comorbidities up to age 84. Neither the American
College of Gastroenterology nor any other guideline groups currently set
an upper age limit for colorectal cancer screening by colonoscopy.
About the American College of Gastroenterology
Founded in 1932, the American College of
Gastroenterology (ACG) is an organization with an international
membership of more than 10,000 individuals from 80 countries. The
College is committed to serving the clinically oriented digestive
disease specialist through its emphasis on scholarly practice, teaching
and research. The mission of the College is to serve the evolving needs
of physicians in the delivery of high quality, scientifically sound,
humanistic, ethical, and cost-effective health care to gastroenterology
patients.
The ACG is committed to providing accurate,
unbiased and up-to-date health information. Visit the ACG Web site
www.acg.gi.org to access educational resources for patients and
their families spanning the broad range of digestive diseases and
conditions - both common and not-so-common. Organized by disease, state
and organ system, these educational materials, developed by ACG
physician experts, are offered for the information and benefit of
patients and the public.
Click to More Senior News on the
Front Page
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
