The invasive and expensive nature of colonoscopies makes determining how to maximize their usefulness—particularly when it comes to follow-up screenings—a prominent topic of research. It’s undisputed that the surgical-based test can save lives, but the timing remains a moving target. Three years ago, the U.
S. Preventive Services Task Force lowered the recommended age for the first colorectal cancer screening by five years—from 50 years of age to 45. Now, the gap between the first and second tests is being scrutinized.
“What we know about colon cancer is it’s very slow growing. Screening for it is never urgent, but it’s very important because we can diagnose it very early,” Dr. Carl Bryce, a family physician, told The Epoch Times.
“The sooner the treatment, the much better the outcomes.” The finding is a bit nuanced, not to mention entirely unofficial—two reasons Dr. Cedrek McFadden of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance medical scientific advisory committee has concerns about the study.
The alliance’s mission is to raise screening rates, improve survival rates, and invest in research to end colorectal cancer. Additionally, Dr. McFadden noted the study was conducted in Sweden—meaning it may not hold true in the United States.
He’s also concerned about narrow qualifications being misconstrued by the media or overlooked by patients who make decisions based on “headlines” or social media content, rather than conversations with their doctors and official.
