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tonyedgecombeyesterday at 4:55 PM3 repliesview on HN

Would screening improve the outcomes or just create more patients getting unnecessary treatment?


Replies

ak217yesterday at 5:39 PM

Yes, colorectal cancer screening is estimated to reduce colorectal cancer mortality by 50% to 73%.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10093633/

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2208375

Progressive screening using non-invasive assays like Cologuard and FIT is a valuable screening mode. The non-invasive assays are not perfect but they are improving.

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greedoyesterday at 5:15 PM

Catching colorectal cancer at an early stage improves survival rates tremendously. You have to weigh the risk of complications from the colonoscopy (primarily bowel perforation) with the improved outcomes. There's a cost element as well, since colonoscopies (without complications) can be several thousand dollars.

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