January 13, 2011
Colonoscopy Reduces Risk of Colorectal Cancer 77 Percent, Study Finds
By Josh Goldstein
Dr. Jorge A. Prieto
Benjamin Franklin probably didn’t have colorectal cancer in mind when he said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But if you are at high risk due to your family history or other factors, or if you’ve turned 50 and are due for a colonoscopy, a new study highlights the importance of undergoing the cancer screening procedure.
Researchers in Germany undertook a large population-based cohort study to determine if colonoscopies available in community hospitals and outpatient centers – not just those by experts at academic medical centers – provide a high degree of protection.
The results were remarkable overall: having a colonoscopy was associated with a 77 percent lower risk of developing colorectal cancer. Even more impressive, researchers found that the risk of right-sided colon cancer (the most difficult to identify with a colonoscopy) was reduced by 56 percent.
“Strong risk reduction was observed for all cancer stages, in both women and men, and in all age groups," the researchers concluded. “And risk reduction increased over time, reaching 82 percent overall in the most recent period studied, 2006-2007.”
After reviewing the study published in the current issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, Jefferson gastroenterologist Jorge A. Prieto, MD said that it confirmed the absolute necessity that people at high risk or for whom colonoscopy is age appropriate need to go have the procedure done.
“Ultimately, what we are looking for is that fewer people die of colon cancer,” Dr. Prieto said. And early detection through colonoscopies is critical, he added.
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2010 more than 142,500 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with colorectal cancer. In addition, some 51,000 people died of the disease, including 4,370 in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
If you are (or have been) diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the Jefferson Colon and Rectal Cancer Center provides a multidisciplinary approach to study and treat colon and rectal cancer with a team of colorectal surgeons, medical oncologists, surgical pathologists, radiation oncologists, geneticists and radiologists.