Colon cancer testing rates leveling off, CDC finds

[question everything]

Source: UPI

More than one in three adults who should be getting colorectal cancer screenings don't, a number that appears to be growing.

A report published Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said just 65.1 percent of adults 50 to 75 get the recommended screenings. While screening rates increased from 54 percent to 65 percent between 2002 and 2010, the numbers from last year appear to show a leveling off.

(snip)

The CDC said doctors may be to blame for more people not getting tested. Two in three adults who have never been screened have a regular doctor and health insurance. Frieden did say he hopes the Affordable Care Act's provisions for preventative care will encourage more people to get tested.

"Through ACA, more Americans will have access to preventative colon cancer screening at no cost to patients," he said.




Read more: http://www.upi.com/blog/2013/11/05/Colon-cancer-testing-rates-leveling-off-CDC-finds/3781383687028/

[frazzled]

1. Well, doctors have harangued most of their boomer-aged patients to get one

(after years of goading, my doctor finally had the lab call me to schedule). So most people who have had the insurance have gotten one in the past decade. And unless there's something wrong, you don't need one for another ten years.

Frankly, I will have to be goaded again to do it in ten years. My test was totally clear, and it's not a fun thing to do. I'm not sure I'll care when I'm ten years older, unless I sense symptoms. But who knows, maybe I'll care more then.

[question everything]

4. Age is a risk for all cancers

So having a clear result does not mean much for the future.

But, as you say, things change in 10 years. And the FDA finally approved an easy prep that has been available abroad for many years (of course).

[dflprincess]

15. There's a new prep?

I had one in my late 40s because of a symptom (which turned out to be caused by something that was no more serious that a pimple) and I'm now 2 years overdue for another one.

I'm good about all my other screenings but the prep is what's been making me stall. While the test isn't pleasant, it's over fairly quickly, I found the prep awful and I was sick for 2 days afterward from the drug(s) they used to sedate me. --- Though I know those have improved.

[question everything]

17. Sodium Picosulfate - PREPOPIK

Last edited Wed Nov 6, 2013, 03:27 PM - Edit history (1)

See my reply #9, below.

Ask for it! And if your doctor disagrees, PM me and I will provide you with the name of mine.

[LiberalElite]

18. Suprep

I've had several colonoscopies and this time I had to take Suprep and it was much better for several reasons. I actually don't dread the next colonoscopy now. But maybe that's just me.

[shanti]

22. not all doctors do that

i begged my primary care doc to get a colonoscopy, but she kept sending me the self-screening tests instead (3 in all!). finally, i had to go over her head and wrote to member services to get one (i'm with kaiser). i did, and everything was fine. like you, i'm not looking forward to the next time, but this new prep (in the post below), sounds much easier.

[frazzled]

23. Wow, I'm surprised, but am glad you finally got it

Now, under ACA, colonoscopies are completely covered, and I believe that since they fall under the required preventive care, you wouldn't have any trouble getting one. Perhaps your doctor didn't order one because at that time it wasn't covered under your insurance and she didn't want you to have to pay? It's quite expensive, well over $2000 I think.

I honestly finally did it just to get the doctor to stop bothering me about it. Now that I hear about the new prep solution, it doesn't seem so daunting.

[shanti]

24. actually

the colonoscopy was fully covered by my kaiser plan, so there was no reason for her to not order one for me, especially since i asked her to. i'm thinking she was watching out for kaiser's bottom line$$$. i switched doctors after that, and was quite happy with my new one! i really think it was an anomaly, as everyone else i knew my age got them automatically.

[OnlinePoker]

2. I'm in a high risk group

Father and both brothers have all had colon cancer (and survived). It took me 18 months here in Canada to get a colonoscopy. They said I should have one every 5 years from now on so I will book my next one in about 7 months just to make it in that 5 year window. Luckily I have a doctor who cared enough to make the booking when I told him of my family situation. Surprisingly, I was clean as a whistle (so to speak).

[question everything]

5. This is great!

At least now you won't worry too much when it is time for the next test.

[goldent]

12. It colonoscopy standard at age 50 in Canada?

I know in the UK, the NHS doesn't pay for them, unless there is some compelling reason. They do a fecal blood count as an alternative but doctors I know don't trust that.

[OnlinePoker]

20. No it's not.

I had mine when I was 49 because of the risk, but in all cases the doctor has to order them because there aren't enough specialists to go around. I think there are 2 here for a population of 400,000...hence the long waits.

[MANative]

3. I had one about three years ago because my dad had colon cancer.

After being told that it was completely covered by my insurance, I was slammed with an $1100 bill for charges over what the insurance company allowed, and my insurance was not a junk plan by any means. I'm still paying it off $10 bucks at a time. Hope the new rules will treat it differently.

[dflprincess]

16. One of my friends discovered that the procedure was covered

but the drug used to sedate her were not. She was insured by UnitedHealth Care at the time (not a junk policy either). We could only wonder if the CEO would have the procedure done without sedation.

[MANative]

21. yup -exactly exactly the same for me, including the same insurer. n/t

[HockeyMom]

6. I don't care if these tests are FREE

I refused one, and was penalized under my former employer's "Wellness" program for it. NOBODY in my immediate family has had colon cancer and I can say that as a genealogist tracing my roots back hundreds of years. Without any CAUSE, these Wellness Tests are driving up the costs of health care for no reason whatsoever. Of course, hypochondriac Americans will say they WANT THEM because they have been brainwashed into thinking they actually need them.

YOU want these tests? Your choice, but don't force or penalize me for not wanting them even if it is FREE. I refuse to feed the beast.

[AngryOldDem]

10. Good post. Absolutely agree.

I think this has become especially true for mammograms, as well.

[goldent]

13. Generics is only a partial predictor.

You are taking a risk, but that's your choice.

[NV Whino]

7. Maybe if they stop charging 80 bucks for the swill you have to drink...

More people would have a colonoscopy.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

8. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 24 years ago. I need to get colonoscopies every other year

since the risk of getting colon cancer increases after having it for more than 10 years.

The prep is worse than the test.

[question everything]

9. Sodium Picosulfate - PREPOPIK

Is a new prep that was used in Europe for many years and just last summer (2012) was approved by the FDA.

Really easy. Half a cup of a lemony drink that is so effervescent that you immediately want to drink a glass of water just to dilute it. And then a glass of water - or jello, or other clear liquid - once an hour four or five times.

Repeat after five hours and this is it.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-approves-ferrings-prepopik-sodium-picosulfate-magnesium-oxide-and-anhydrous-citric-acid-for-colonoscopy-prep-162723956.html

[NV Whino]

14. Sounds like a vast improvement

Maybe it will be in use when I'm due my next one.

[LiberalElite]

19. Suprep too

is a big improvement over the Miralax in Gatorade, Ducolax and Citrate of Magnesia routine I had to follow. Less liquid to swallow, no bloating, doesn't taste too bad, split dose (1/2 in evening and 1/2 next morning) meant I could actually sleep through the night.

[wellstone dem]

11. Just had my first one

It was not nearly as bad as I thought. Actually wasn't bad at all.

Just had to take some Ducolax and then Gatorade mixed with some other over the counter laxative. Actually enjoyed the day off just taking care of me the day before the procedure.

The day of the procedure, the worst part was the nurse making political statements about the poor while she was putting a needle in my arm. (I wrote a letter of complaint that was handled well.)

I was 7 years late and the worst stress was worrying I had waited to long. I finally went because a younger sister had polyps. Also have an uncle who died very young (in his 20s) of colon cancer.

I'm happy to be back on track, and will not be dreading the next one. Oh, all was clear.