Rochester Recommends Earlier Colonoscopies for Smokers
A study of 3,450 colorectal cancer patients conducted by the University of Rochester Medical Center suggests smokers should start getting screened for colon cancer 10 years earlier than their non-smoking counterparts.
The American Cancer Society and other cancer experts currently recommend most people begin getting colonoscopies at age 50. However, Rochester’s investigation indicates age 50 may be too late for individuals who smoked more than a pack a day, especially if they started smoking cigarettes in their early teens.
Rochester’s examination of colon cancer cases spanning 40 years revealed cigarette smokers were diagnosed 6.8 years younger than their non-smoker counterparts and former smokers who quit less than five years before were diagnosed 4.3 years younger.
Their study also showed passive exposure to secondhand smoke combined with active smoking resulted in a colon cancer diagnosis nearly 10 years sooner.
While passive exposure to smoke has already been scientifically linked to an increased risk of other forms of cancer, Rochester’s research is one of the first published studies linking secondhand smoke to colon cancer.
The study’s lead author believes this new evidence will help physicians and patients make better choices about when to test for colon cancer. As he explained,
“The message is clear: When making decisions about colon cancer screening you should take into account smoking history as well as family history of disease and age.”
Luke J. Peppone, PhD
James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, University of Rochester
If you’d like to read more about Rochester’s research, their work is published in the online edition of the Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology.
Sources: URMC Office of Corporate Alliances and Medical News Today
Related Links: Science Daily; MedicineWorld.org
Related Podcast: Who’s still smoking in the US? from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Tags: Roswell Park Cancer Institute; New York; oncology; polyps; cancer prevention; epidemiology
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