Re: Study Shows Colonoscopy Misses 4% of Cancers

September 7, 2004

Narice,

Thanks do much for these two posts.I will pass them on every way I can.My

husband had colitis for ten years and saw Drs. in N.Y. City,New Jersey.Florida

and Boston and NONE ever mentioned that he had an increased risk for colon

cancer.

They also missed the cancer growth in his annual colonoscopies untill it was too

late.Even though they biopsied polyps every year.I hope you all have the

opportunity to pass this info on,it can save lives!!

Thanks Narice.

Peace,

Mark's Wife

Study Shows Colonoscopy Misses 4% of Cancers

Some of you especially those who had clean colonoscopies prior to diagnosis

might be interested in this.

Narice

Aug. 30, 2004 -- Colonoscopy is currently considered the best way to screen

for and detect colon cancer, which is the second leading cause of

cancer-related deaths in the U.S. and Canada. And while the test flags the

vast majority of

colon cancers, it's not perfect.

Four percent of cancers on the right-hand side of the colon are not detected

by colonoscopy, according to a Canadian study published in the journal

Gastroenterology. Researchers specifically looked at cancer on the right side

of the

colon because that is where it occurs most.

It's probably not a technological flaw, say researcher Rabeneck, MD,

MPH, a senior researcher associated with the Cancer Quality Council of

Ontario,

Canada, and colleagues. More likely, the problem is less-experienced doctors,

incomplete exams, and/or improper patient preparation.

In colonoscopy, patients are sedated while doctors insert a flexible, lighted

tube through the rectum allowing doctors to look at the entire colon for

abnormalities. The tube is attached to a video monitor and equipment which

allows

a biopsy to be taken.

Rabeneck and colleagues studied health records of more than 4,900 Canadians

diagnosed with colon cancer between 1997 and 2001. All had had at least one

colonoscopy within three years before their treatment.

In 96% of the cases, colonoscopy detected their colon cancer. But in a few

patients -- 4% -- the test missed the cancer.

" It is important that we inform patients who are undergoing colonoscopy that

if a cancer is present, there is a small chance that it will be missed, " write

the researchers.

That's no reason to cancel your colonoscopy appointment. True, few patients

look forward to the exam, but it does find almost all cancers, according to

Rabeneck's study.

In fact, colonoscopy's accuracy rate beats that of two other standard cancer

screening tests: mammography for breast cancer and Pap smears for cervical

cancer.

If you're due for a colonoscopy, you may want to look for a practitioner with

extensive experience and follow any pretest instructions to the letter. Know

that no test is perfect, but remember that colonoscopy is still considered the

best method for detecting colon cancer while it can be treated.

SOURCES: Rabeneck, L. Gastroenterology, August 2004; vol 127: pp 452-456. The

Toronto Globe and Mail. WebMD Health: " Breast Cancer: Understanding Your

Mammogram Results. " WebMD Health Guide A to Z: " Reliability of Pap Tests. "

September 8, 2004

No problem but lets go easy on those Dr.s some of this information is new.

Especially the colitis stuff.

Narice

September 12, 2004

No offense taken you are right I just think we need to respect that Dr.s and

human and can't know everything. We are extremely fortunate to have a great

oncologist who is quick to admit he doesn't know everything but is willing to

find out and take advice from any and all who know something he doesn't.

Listening Learning and being willing to refer are the qualities i appreciate in

our

Dr. If he were arrogant and uncaring I'd give him the boot. No you had too many

lousy ones that's for sure. Humility is unfortunately NOT a hallmark of the

profession these days but if you find it Thank God for it.

Our Dr. is fine with being questioned. he's fine with outside opinions. We

are lucky not all of you have had this experience.

Our PCP was just the oposite and he got the boot!

Hope things are better for you somewhat, and I'm so sorry if I hurt you or

your family.

Please take care

Narice

September 12, 2004

Narice,

Sorry but I'm a firm believer in never going " easy on the Dr.s " .Remember my

husband is dead.He was a member of this board for four years.While many believe

God controls the whole deal,I happen to know that the Dr.s play a huge role.If

we had listened to the Dr.s Mark wouldn't have made it to our son's 2nd

Birthday.It was a constant battle with the Dr.s It was through the experiences

of all the people on this board and ,and countless hours of research

by me that we were able to give my son four years of beautiful memories with his

Dad.And Mark had great quality of life.Even the Dr.s at the " best " institutions

rarely have time to keep themselves or thier patients abreast of studies.

This is certainly not an attack on you Narice you are a wonderful person and an

important contributor to this forum.It just really hurt me to be told to take it

easy on the Dr.s!! They made so many mistakes with my Husbands treatment.And we

found them often to be mis or un-informed or just plain busy.This is not a cry

of bitterness it is a reminder to everyone here not to take the Dr.s word as

gospel.We were so niave when we started this journey.Research, and question

everything, and learn from the good people here.I am currently working closely

with several gastro Dr.s to put together an imfomative phamphlet

for colitis and ulcerative colitis patients as to what they might expect from

treatment,surgery and non treatment.Thanks again for your info Narice, sorry I

am so adamant about the Dr.s but we are not the only ones who've had a terrible

experience.In addition to the 'big " things they almost killed my husband three

times with some very small things such as drug interactions.They are only human,

I know.I also believe God helps those who help themselves. In this fight

against cancer it is important to give yourself every advantage you can.

Peace,

Mark's Wife

Re: Study Shows Colonoscopy Misses 4% of

Cancers

No problem but lets go easy on those Dr.s some of this information is new.

Especially the colitis stuff.

Narice

September 12, 2004