How the Colon Cancer Incidence Is Seeing a Change?

Colon, or cancer of the colorectal part, is large-bowel or rectal cancer. The third most common type of cancer for both men and women in the US is colorectal cancer – the lifetime risk for the disease is approx. 5%. But in this field there are also many good news. Cancer of the colon is highly preventive and can be treated very early. Due to improvements in colon cancer screening and prevention, the incidence of colon cancer has decreased steadily over decades.

The figures

The American Cancer Society reports that colon cancer incidence began to decrease in the mid-1980s and has continued to decline. The incidence rate for men decreased by approximately 3.0% annually from 1998 to the moment and for women by 2.3% annually. Although not at equal rates, every ethnic group has experienced declines in incidence rates.

It should also be noted that colon cancer mortality rates were reduced over the same time period. It is due to the constant awareness build up on colonoscopy screening to make people screening once they have crossed age 45.

Significance of Screening

The major factor behind reduced incidence and mortality rates is colorectal cancer screening. The routine diagnosis of polyps with the highest possible potential for cancer can be detected by diagnostic tests such as colonoscopy screening. Screening also helps to detect cancer early, if treatment is highly likely to be successful.

Colonoscopy is recommended for -

• Persons over 50 years old

• Americans over 45 years old

• People with colon cancer family history

• Inflammatory bowel diseases, for example Crohn's and ulcerative colitis

• Personal polyps or colonic cancer history

Screening Influencing Factors

So, why screening have increased since the mid-1980s? Over that period of time, accessibility and screening awareness has increased. There are also hospitals offering testing for people without insurance or poor insurance coverage; colon cancer screenings are widely available and covered by insurance. Furthermore, while they are reputed to be uncomfortable to prepare for and to be suffered, most people have no pain in preparedness or colonoscopy itself.

Accessibility and consciousness variations are also responsible for the shifts we see from other ethnicities in the relative incidence of African Americans. In health education and access to health care socioeconomic factors have a major role to play. In the case of new cases of colon cancer, improving accessibility and sensitization across all populations can help continue the downward trend.

See us at Digestive Disease Specialists for this screening. See us gastrointestinal issues, digestive problem, GERD, acid reflux and more.

**Disclaimer: This blog content does not offer a doctor's advice and creates no relationship between any patient and care provider.