If all Americans were screened regularly, it would save 25,000 lives each year.
When a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) comes back positive, there's only about a 2% chance that the person has colorectal cancer.
CT colonography misses 10% - 25% of large colorectal polyps. In this case, "large" means polyps raised at least 10 mm.
CT colonography misses 33% - 90% of small colorectal polyps. In this case, "small" means polyps raised less than 5 mm.
When diagnosed early, 90% of colorectal cancers are completely curable.
High-risk patients account for 5% - 10% of all colorectal cancer cases. People are considered at "high risk" for colorectal cancer if they have been diagnosed with FAP, HNPCC, or long-term inflammatory bowel disease in the colon.
Moderate-risk patients account for 15% - 20% of all colorectal cancer cases. People are considered at "moderate risk" for colorectal cancer if they or anyone in their family have had colorectal polyps or cancer.
About 75% of people in the U.S. who develop colorectal cancer are 50 or older with no other identifiable risk factors.
Getting a sigmoidoscopy can reduce the average person's risk of dying from colorectal cancer by 70%.
Getting a colonoscopy can reduce the average person's risk of dying from colorectal cancer by 90%.
Sources:
Michael Macari; Edmund J. Bini; Stacy L. Jacobs; Yvonne W. Lui; Shaked Laks; Andrew Milano; James Babb. "Significance of Missed Polyps at CT Colonography." Medscape Gastroenterology 4 Aug 2004. Accessed 7 Apr 2008 [http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/483794].
Sara M. Mariani, MD, PhD. "Conference Report - Early Cancer Diagnosis: Beating the Odds. Highlights of the Annual Meeting of the 95th American Association for Cancer Research; March 27-31, 2004; Orlando, Florida." Medscape Gastroenterology 30 Jul 2004. Accessed 7 Apr 2008 [http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/483077].
Daniel L. Ouyang MD, Joseph J. Chen BA, Robert H. Getzenberg PhD, Robert E. Schoen MD, MPH. "Noninvasive Testing for Colorectal Cancer: A Review." The American Journal of Gastroenterology 100.6 (Jun 2005): 1393-1403. Accessed 9 Apr 2008.
Douglas K. Rex, MD, FACG. "Screening for Colon Cancer and Evaluation of Chemoprevention with Coxibs." Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 23.4.1 (Apr 2002): S41-S50. Accessed 7 Apr 2008 [http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jps/article/PIIS0885392402003755/abstract].
