Study: Screening Rate for Colorectal Cancer Rising Slowly

A new study shows that the number of people being screened for colorectal cancer increased only slightly between 1997 and 1999, according to a report in the Journal of Family Practice.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control, found that only 33 percent of the 60,000 Americans over 50 years of age who participated in a telephone survey in 1999 reported having a colonoscopy during the previous five years.

This compares to 30 percent who reported having a colonoscopy in a similar survey in 1997.

The researchers said only 21 percent of those surveyed in 1999 reported having a fecal occult blood test, to identify blood in the stool, during the previous five years, compared to 19 percent of those surveyed in 1997.

CDC screening guidelines suggest people over 50 have a fecal occult blood test once a year, a colonoscopy every 5 years and a full x-ray of the colon every 10 years.

The CDC's Laura Seeff said she was heartened by the fact that the screening rate is slowly improving, which she attributed to increased awareness that screening catches colorectal cancer earlier when it is easier to treat.

But she said the fact that many health plans still don't cover screening colonoscopies, together with patient embarrassment, still leave the screening rate well below the rates for breast or cervical cancer.

Other Sources: Journal of Family Practice