Originally published October 12 2005
Researchers recommend upper age limit for colonoscopies
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Dr. Amnon Sonnenberg, a researcher at Oregon Health & Science University, in Portland, headed a study that has concluded that colonoscopies' effectiveness reaches a low point in people aged 75 and above, which suggests physicians should reconsider the use of the strenuous test in the elderly, for whom the health benefits are often minimal.
However, researchers say doctors may also want to restrict the use of colonoscopies in ill, elderly patients.
Only about 40 percent to 50 percent of people at risk of colorectal cancer -- which experts say includes everyone over the age of 50 -- undergo the appropriate screening tests, said Dr. Durado Brooks, director of colorectal cancer for the American Cancer Society.
While TV host Katie Couric has done much to raise the profile of colonoscopy since her husband's death from colorectal cancer, the procedure remains uncomfortable and potentially risky.
In their study, Sonnenberg and co-researcher Dr. Cynthia Ko compared the benefits and risks of screening people aged 70 to 94 for colorectal cancer.
The study findings appear in the current issue of Gastroenterology 2005.
The two researchers found that colonoscopy would be a good idea for healthy men aged 70 to 74 because it would take just 42 tests to prevent one fatal case of the disease.
For example, doctors would need to give colonoscopies to 431 women in poor health aged 75 to 79 to prevent one fatal case, the researchers found.
If a patient isn't expected to live long because of extreme age or severe illness, "it does not make much sense to schedule a colonoscopy in order to prevent the possibility of a cancer in future that would not affect the patient's well-being within the next five years anyway," Sonnenberg said.
On the other hand, expanded screening could save as many as 15,000 lives annually, the researchers found.
According to study co-author Dr. Uri Ladabaum, a UCSF assistant clinical professor of medicine, "The key message for adults over 50 is that colorectal cancer screening can significantly decrease their risk of dying from colorectal cancer, and they should strongly consider getting screened."
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