Screening cuts risk of dying from colorectal cancer nearly in half

Credit University of South Australia

CANCER DIGEST – Sept 21, 2019 – Screening cuts the risk of dying from colorectal cancer by as much as 45 percent researchers say. A new Australian analysis of 12, 906 records found that 37 percent of the patients had pre-diagnostic colonoscopies and were more likely to live longer than those who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer after experiencing symptoms.
The study in the Aug. 29, 2019 journal BMC Cancer found that having one pre-diagnostic colonoscopy was linked to a 17 percent reduction in cancer death; those who had two screening procedures had a 27 percent reduction in death from colorectal cancer and for those who had three or more screening tests before diagnosis had a 45 percent reduction in death from colorectal cancer.

Dr. Ming Li, lead author of the study at the University of South Australia said the study shows that pre-diagnostic colonoscopies can significantly cut colorectal cancer deaths.

“Our findings show the value of Australia's National Bowel Screening Program which is now being rolled out to everyone in Australia over the age of 50 on a two-yearly basis," Dr. Li said in press release. "It involves doing a simple, non-invasive fecal occult blood test (FOBT) which, if positive, is followed up with a colonoscopy.”

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Source: University of South Australia press release