Colorectal cancer Health professionals facts on screening

How common is ? Why screen? Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer- The natural history of CRC makes it ideally suited to screening. related deaths in the U.S. An estimated 49,000 Americans die of Most CRCs develop over many years from benign adenomatous CRC and an estimated 148,000 new cases are diagnosed each polyps. Precancerous polyps can be detected and removed year.1 It affects both men and women, and more than 90% of during certain screening procedures, thereby preventing CRC. cases are diagnosed in those 50 years old or older.1 If everybody aged 50 or older had regular screening tests, more than one third of deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented.2 When CRC is found early and is appropriately Who should be tested? treated, survival is greatly enhanced, with a five-year relative Men and women age 50 and older survival rate of 90%.2 Currently only 37% of CRCs are diagnosed Everyone age 50 and older should be tested routinely. Overall, at an early stage.2 the lifetime risk for developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 19 (5.3%). This risk is slightly higher in men than in women.1 What screening tests are available? People at increased risk Several tests are used to screen for CRC beginning at age 50. Family history, personal history and lifestyle factors should be The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), as well as considered when determining a screening schedule. Among the American Cancer Society (ACS), the U.S. Mutli-Society Task people considered at high risk for CRC are those with a personal Force on Colorectal Cancer (Task Force), and the American or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, people who College of Radiology (ACR) have developed guidelines related have had inflammatory bowel disease ( or to CRC screening. They are: Crohn’s disease), and those with genetic syndromes (familial • USPSTF: Annual test (FOBT), adenomatous polyposis or hereditary non-polyposis colon every five years, and every 10 years. (2008) cancer). Several lifestyle-related factors have been linked to colorectal cancer. In fact, the effect of diet, weight and exercise • ACS/Task Force/ACR: Annual FOBT and flexible on colorectal cancer risk is among the strongest for any sigmoidoscopy every 5 years; or colonoscopy every 10 years; type of cancer. Currently there is no consensus on screening or double contrast barium enema (DCBE) every 5 years; or recommendations for high-risk patients. For the most up-to-date computed tomographic colonography every 5 years. (2008) compilation of guidelines from a variety of private, non-profit and government organizations, please refer to www.guideline.gov, the National Guideline Clearinghouse. 1 American Cancer Society, “What Are the Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer?” www.cancer.org (March 2008). 2 Centers for Disease Control. Prevention and the Screen for Life National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign. People with symptoms Additional Sources: Patients with symptoms require immediate diagnostic testing. Screening and Surveillance for the Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer and Adenomatous Polyps, 2008: A Joint Guideline from the American Cancer Society, the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Symptoms may include rectal bleeding, abdominal pain or Center, and the American College of Radiology. CA Cancer J Clin 2008; 58:130-160. Screening for Colorectal Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. Ann discomfort, chronic fatigue, a change in bowel habits, frequent Intern Med 2008:149: 627-637. gas and unexplained weight loss. The information in this brochure was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Screen for Life National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign. This brochure is intended to educate readers about a subject that may be pertinent to their health and is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional. An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. U2857b, 6/09 Colorectal cancer – Health professionals facts on screening

FOBT (Fecal Occult Flex Sig (Flexible Combination- DCBE (Double Contrast Screening Test Colonoscopy Blood Test)* Sigmoidoscopy) Flex Sig & FOBT* Barium Enema)

Age 50-75, Age 50-75, Age 50-75, Age 50-75, Starting at age 50, once a year. once every 5 years. FOBT annually and once every 10 years. once every 5 years. Frequency Flex Sig once every 5 years.

Detects blood Allows direct Allows direct Allows direct An alternative method from polyps and visualization of visualization of visualization of entire for visualizing the colorectal cancer. If and distal rectum and distal colon. Biopsies of rectum and entire colon. blood is detected, half of colon. half of colon. polyps and cancers can patient will need Biopsies of polyps Biopsies of polyps be taken. Most polyps Purpose a follow-up and cancers can and cancers can can be removed during colonoscopy or be taken. Some be taken. Some procedure. double contrast physicians remove physicians remove barium enema. polyps during polyps during procedure. procedure.

• Done at home, • Provides no • Provides no • Provides visualization • Provides good view patient puts stool visualization of visualization of of entire colon of rectum and entire samples on test proximal colon proximal colon colon • Patient expected cards for three • Patient expected • Patient expected to restrict diet and • Patient expected bowel movements to restrict diet and to restrict diet and use laxatives and/or to restrict diet and in a row use laxatives and/ use laxatives and/ enemas before the use laxatives and/ or • False positive or or enemas before or enemas before procedure enemas before the false negative the procedure the procedure procedure • Patient is sedated result occurs, • Patient may feel • Patient may during procedure and • Patient may feel as preoxidase discomfort during/ feel discomfort advised not to drive discomfort during/ activity from any after exam during/after exam or work on day of after exam GI source and a exam Important number of foods • Very small risk • Very small risk • Barium causes considerations give a positive of perforation, of perforation, • Patient may feel constipation, so result infection or infection or discomfort during/ laxatives and drinking bleeding bleeding after exam a lot of water after • Patient should the exam is advised avoid some foods • If polyps or lesions • If polyps or • Small risk of and medicines are found, a follow- lesions are found, perforation, infection • Small risk of 1-3 days before up colonoscopy a follow-up or bleeding perforation generally is colonoscopy and throughout • In many cases, offers • May detect clinically necessary is generally the stool samples one-step screening, significant lesions; necessary collection diagnosis and if polyps/lesions treatment; if polyps found, a follow-up or lesions are found, colonoscopy is they can be removed generally necessary during procedure

* FOBT is not the same stool test done in the physician’s office as part of a Digital Rectal Exam – a test that is considered neither appropriate nor sufficient as a CRC screening test.

Encourage your patients age 50 and over to begin screening for colorectal cancer and visit: HOW CAN WE www.cdc.gov/cancer/ScreenforLife. For more information about colorectal cancer or any other cancer, HELP? call the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service: 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).