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American Cancer Society Waffles on Need for Screening Tests for Cancer
submitted by: admin on 06/18/2016
In a field plagued by frequent controversy, the American Cancer Society (ACS) claims to have taken a major step forward to provide transparency in how justified it is in recommending cancer screening tests. It blames oncologists with a conflict of interest...what would you expect from an organization that depends on income from big pharma and the mammography...
Americans Get Too Many Colonoscopies
submitted by: admin on 05/12/2015
Gastroenterologists and the American Society for Gastroenterology recommend screening colonoscopies begin at age 50 and be repeated every 10 years unless there is a special indication for more often. However, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is questioning this recommendation.
A study published in the September 2014 issue of...
Are Colonoscopies Effective?
submitted by: admin on 05/16/2015
Most of us assume the colonoscopy is a routine screening test we all need at age 50. However, the data is controversial and it can be argued that for people who are asymptomatic that there's no benefit when complications are considered.
Cancer
submitted by: admin on 02/16/2015
The definition of cancer means that cancer cells don't die as they are programmed, they lack apoptosis. The reasons for this range from genetic defects to overgrowth of chromosomes. Cancer is believed to be caused by genetic and epigenetic factors that include poor lifestyle, radiation exposure, infections, pollution, and more. The spread of cancer is complicated;...
Cancer Screening vs Prevention
submitted by: admin on 09/19/2013
Cancer is on the rise and cancer screening is being promoted. Early detection is not as important as you'd think. The pap smear, mammograms, colonoscopy, and PSA testing have major problems that lead to over or underdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment. Screens over the age of 70 has not been shown to be warranted.
Colon Cancer Screening
submitted by: admin on 02/17/2015
Screening for colon cancer is controversial even though we are advised to have a colonoscopy at age 50 as a routine. However, in asymptomatic people the risk of perforation or GI bleeding offsets the benefits. The role of other screens such as occult blood in the stool, barium enemas, sigmoidoscopy and virtual colonoscopies is discussed.
Colon Cancer Screening, Which is Right for You?
submitted by: admin on 09/19/2013
There are many different tests used in colon cancer screening and it is confusing to know which one is right for you. Not everyone should do the same test. There are controversies about if it is even necessary in asymptomatic people.
Colonoscopy Screening Questioned
submitted by: admin on 06/18/2016
The Journal of the National Cancer Institute published an article saying that colonoscopy for primary screening might be going too far. I agree! The benefits, harms, and costs have not been determined. Checking the stool for ocult blood and flexible sigmoidoscopy have been shown to be of value but there's no data showing that colonoscopy gives additional...
Colonoscopy: Do You Need One?
submitted by: admin on 09/19/2013
Dr. Len discusses the pros and cons for a routine colonoscopy for colon cancer screening. In asymptomatic people without a family history of cancer, the risks of doing a colonoscopy may exceed the benefits. Bowel perforations and severe GI bleeding are complications in 1 in 200 tests. Other screening tests are reviewed too.
Do Familial Precancerous Polyps Predict Colon Cancer?
submitted by: admin on 06/18/2016
When do you need a colonoscopy? An article in Annals of Internal Medicine in May of 2012 stated that there's insufficient evidence to recommend earlier or more frequent colonoscopies for people who have a first degree relative with a precancerous polyp unless the polyp is advanced. About 30-50% of people have polyps that are precancerous, but only 5-10% warrant...
Do We Need Virtual Colonoscopies?
submitted by: admin on 06/18/2016
Is there a need for virtual colonoscopies? In fact, is there a need for any colonoscopies in asymptomatic people? There is a lot of controversy on this topic. The advantage of virtual colonoscopy is that it is easier for the patient, but it also delivers a hefty dose of radiation and often required a regular colonoscopy if there are abnormal findings.
Do You Need a Colonoscopy?
submitted by: admin on 09/20/2013
Dr. Len and Nurse Vicki discuss the pros and cons for a routine colonoscopy for colon cancer screening. In asymptomatic people without a family history of cancer, the risks of doing a colonoscopy may exceed the benefits. Bowel perforations and severe GI bleeding are complications in 1 in 200 tests. Other screening tests are reviewed too.
Is Your Colonoscope Clean?
submitted by: admin on 10/09/2013
A scientific paper presented at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control in June of 2013 analyzed 275 duodenoscopes, gastroscopes, and colonoscopes and found 15% were contaminated by "bio-dirt." The percentages with bio-dirt were 30% for duodenoscopes, 24% for gastroscopes, and 3% for colonoscopes. There are 17 million endoscopies...
MDs Fail to Order Screening Tests
submitted by: admin on 04/20/2024
In an article published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2012 it was determined that MDs are not ordering preventive screening tests very often. Perhaps they don't have sufficient incentive, but they certainly don't have much time in today's HMO medicine. Even though they receive automated reminders, only a few tests, such as colonoscopy,...
Medical Guidelines Questioned
submitted by: admin on 10/11/2013
According to an article published in the October 2012 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, most medical guidelines are based on opinion and weak data. They do not follow the standards set by the Institute of Medicine.
In a study of 130 guidelines, fewer than half met even 10 of their 18 standards. Fewer than half stated whether conflicts of...
Ownership Spurs Unnecessary MRI Tests
submitted by: admin on 09/30/2013
A study published in September of 2013 in the journal, Radiology, looked at the number of knee MRIs that were ordered by MDs with ownership in the MRI facility and those that did not, and found that about 33% more were ordered by those with ownership.
Medical practice has become a business, and income is the bottom line for for a business. We believe...
Preventive Benefits of Medicare
submitted by: admin on 10/14/2013
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that 5 million Americans took advantage of one or more of the recommended preventive benefits available through the Affordable Care Act. Among the benefits is the new Annual Wellness Visit benefit. The idea is to either detect early or prevent chronic diseases with tests such as mammograms, bone...
Screening for Colon Cancer (video series)
submitted by: admin on 04/08/2015
No one wants to get colon cancer and colonoscopy has been touted to be the best way to find asymptomatic precanceous and cancerous lesions of the colon that could be lifesaving. This makes logical sense, however, the United States Preventive Services Task Force in now questioning this test for healthy people who have no GI symptoms.
Selling Cancer Screening
submitted by: admin on 06/18/2016
Medical professional groups and cancer advocacy groups need to refocus on educating rather than persuading about cancer testing. The harms of screening have been largely dismissed. It is easy to sell screening, just magnify the benefit, minimize the cost, and hide the data about their value.
These tests are big business and there are conflicts...
Should Screening Tests for Cancer be Limited in the Elderly?
submitted by: admin on 09/01/2014
A study out of the University of North Carolina Medical Center in August of 2014 studied more than 27,000 patients over the age of 65 and questioned the widsom of doing routine cancer screening tests, especially if they had a limited life expectancy. They looked at screening tests for prostate, breast, colon, and cervix in a study from 2000 through 2010 and compared...
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