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Article: Study finds most colon cancer tests are not effective.(Nation)
- Article from:
- The Washington Times (Washington, DC)
- Article date:
- April 2, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Most tests routinely used to detect recurrent colon cancer are ineffective, a group of cancer experts said.
Only two tests - a physical exam and a colonoscopy - were found to be effective in detecting new cancers in patients who have already experienced an episode of colon cancer, according to guidelines just released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The organization represents 12,000 doctors who treat patients with cancer.
The guidelines also say a colonoscopy every three to five years is sufficient to detect new cancers. This differs considerably from current practice, where 75 percent of doctors routinely perform colonoscopies once or ...