To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Many Colorectal Cancer Survivors Receive Follow-up Testing Below Recommended Levels URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/22B6D6.htm Doctor's Guide September 8, 2008
ATLANTA -- September 8, 2008 -- Fewer than half of older patients successfully treated for colorectal cancer receive the recommended screening schedule to detect any recurrence of cancer, according to a study appearing in the October 15 issue of Cancer. The study, which is the first known national, population-based study in the United States to examine adherence to published guidelines, indicates that poor compliance with follow-up guidelines for colorectal cancer could affect survival. Gregory S. Cooper, MD, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, and colleagues analysed information from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program of cancer registries and Medicare claims. The researchers assessed overall adherence to guidelines as well as differences across patient subgroups. A total of 9,426 patients aged over 65 years who were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum from 2000 to 2001 were included in the analysis. Patients were followed up to 3 years after diagnosis. The study investigators considered the screening guidelines to be fulfilled if a patient received 2 or more office visits per year, 2 or more carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) tests per year, and at least 1 colonoscopy within 3 years. Overall, 6 out of 10 (60.2%) of patients received testing below recommended levels, while 1 out 5 (17.1%) received testing at the recommended frequency. Nearly 1 out of 4 patients (22.7%) received follow-up services above those specified by screening guidelines. The researchers said that while some of the difference could be explained by clinical factors, such as stage of disease, they also found important differences across racial groups and region. Lower use of testing in African Americans is likely a contributing factor to the known poorer stage-specific survival compared to whites. In addition, geographic differences across SEER sites suggest that patient and physician preferences may influence choice of testing. "Further studies should ascertain the reasons for poor compliance and the effect on patient outcome," the authors wrote. SOURCE: American Cancer Society --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.