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 the Journal of General Internal Medicine followed the medical records of 1429 patients aged 50-65 years of age and found that 871 patients with normal exams were re-scoped on the average of 6 years later. Oddly, those patients who had precancerous adenomas were not re-screened as would be recommended in 25% of the patients. It is difficult to understand this situation.
As usual, lifestyle is a very important tool that prevents colorectal cancer. Diet, exercise, adequate sleep, low levels of stress, sunlight, and weight management are each powerful tools to prevent colon cancer. If we all practiced a healthy lifestyle, colon cancer would be a rare disease.
