CDC – All Colon Screening Tests Are Not Created Equal.

Posted on | July 6, 2011 | 1 Comment

Mike Magee

The CDC made news this week with the latest statistics on colon cancer in the US. (1) They hit the facts but missed the point.

First the good news:

Colon cancer declined significantly from 2003 to 2007. Deaths declined in 49 states (Mississippi being the outlier). The rate of new cases of colorectal cancer fell from 52 per 100,000 in 2003 to 45 in 2007. That’s a nearly 14% drop in just 4 years, with a 12% decline in mortality. (1)

The bad news:

The good news will only get better if messaging from the CDC and other public and private health sources makes it clear – colonoscopy is far, far superior to sigmoidoscopy, and fecal occult blood testing is prehistoric as a colon cancer screening method. The CDC emphasizes that 1/3 of Americans are still not screened without acknowledging that the numbers of those inadequately screened (by virtue of these markedly inferior tests) is much, much higher. (1)

Why the subterfuge? (CONTINUE….)

Comments

One Response to “CDC – All Colon Screening Tests Are Not Created Equal.”

Spina Bifida
July 11th, 2011 @ 1:16 pm

This was a great piece. Early detection is always the key, and having a colonoscopy offers the most comprehensive results. It is unfortunate that others in need will potentially waste time going through many other tests, before they finally get a colonoscopy.