Research presented at Digestive Disease Week 2007 in Washington, D.C., indicated that colonoscopies are the best colon cancer screening option for African Americans. When first introduced to the idea, I wondered why race would even matter. Why would researchers recommend colonoscopies specifically for African Americans?
Turns out they had a pretty compelling reason. Researchers from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, reviewed data from more than 16,000 colonoscopies performed between January 2000 to December 2005. Their findings? African Americans had the highest risk of developing colon cancer in the proximal colon (also known as the right colon or ascending colon).
Tumors in the right colon tend to be diagnosed at later stages. It's roomy there, so a tumor can grow for quite some time before causing any symptoms. And if someone opts for a sigmoidoscopy, the screening test will miss the tumor because that particular test only examines the lower third of the colon.
Makes a little more sense now, doesn't it? The study presented at the conference showed that African Americans are more likely than anyone else to have a tumor growing in a part of the colon where cancer is good at hiding. So, the researchers recommended the test that's best able to inspect that part of the colon and remove polyps before they become cancerous: a colonoscopy.
One thing to keep in mind is that colonoscopies are generally considered superior to other screening methods in general, regardless of race. This study simply indicates that they're even more highly recommended for African Americans. So if your doctor recommends a different colon cancer test, please be sure to ask why.
Related Articles:- African Americans and Colon Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer Death Rates are Highest for African Americans
- Colonoscopy Overview
Source:
Martha Kerr. "Flexible Sigmoidoscopy May Miss Colon Cancers in Highest-Risk Group." Medscape Medical News. 23 May 2007. Accessed 27 May 2007 [http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/557108?sssdmh=dm1.273821&src=nlconfnews].
