Study offers strong evidence that colonoscopy saves lives

[Islander]

By Gene Emery
Thu Feb 23, 2012

(Reuters Health) - Doctors now have strong evidence that colonoscopies save lives, a finding that may encourage more people to get the dreaded tests to detect and prevent colon cancer.

A team at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York found that colonoscopies in which precancerous polyps, known as adenomas, are removed can cut the risk of dying from colon cancer by 53 percent. The study appears in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In theory, adenoma removal saves lives by preventing a tumor. Ann Zauber of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, chief author of the long-term evaluation of polyp removal, and her colleagues said their work demonstrates that.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/24/us-colonoscopy-idUSTRE81M04R20120224?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews

[Islander]

I have to speak up in STRONG support for colonoscopies for everyone over the age of 50. The prep is not terribly unpleasant any more and the procedure itself couldn't be simpler. A colonoscopy saved my life, and just in time, too. Had my then-doctor not routinely inquired whether I had ever had one, and made the appointment...I would not be here typing this encouragement now. Do it.

[mellowsong]

I have to agree with Islander. This is one of the few conventional diagnostic tests that truly does save lives. During my years in nursing and also in my personal life, I have seen so many people that were diagnosed with an early cancer and simple surgery literally CURED them. I have also seen many die of colon cancer or go through massive surgeries (ending with a colostomy bag), chemo and radiation because they did not have any testing until symptomatic.

[Islander]

Exactly. By the time there are symptoms it's too late. My oncologist said, if it had happened to me 10 years earlier I would have had a colostomy bag...just shoot me, God. They want to knock you out for the procedure, which is fine if you're anxious, but I was awake through all but one of mine (they didn't listen when I said, no anesthesia!) and you can watch it all on TV if you want to. Surgery caught it JUST BARELY in time and I needed no follow-up- no chemo, no nothing. If caught even earlier I would have required no surgery at all, just polyp-snipping.

This is NOT an invasive procedure in the sense that mammograms are. They just go up the Hershey Highway in search of exotic creatures...a voyage of discovery, if you will. You can chat with them the whole time. It's painless except for one little cramp when they go 'round a corner. Just man up & do it.