Colorectal cancer incidence rates have been declining in the U.S. since the mid-1980s. Since 1998, rates have been declining by 3.0% per year in men and by 2.3% per year in women. The acceleration in the decline in the past decade has largely been attributed to the detection and removal of precancerous polyps as a result of colorectal cancer screening.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 111505.htm"The value of early detection has become a topic of wide debate for some cancers," said Edward Partridge, M.D., national volunteer president of the American Cancer Society. "But for colorectal cancer there should be no debate: screening for colon cancer saves lives. The American Cancer Society has identified colorectal cancer as a major priority because of the enormous potential to prevent the disease, diminish suffering, and save lives."
I may have mentioned that the reason I got a colonoscopy was that last July 4th a dear friend of mine died from colon cancer, six weeks after diagnosis. She was 55, the wife of an internationally known homeschooling pioneer, who also founded my church. She left seven children, the youngest aged 10, and her death was devastating for many in the Christian community around the world. She was Japanese, slender, athletic, and a healthy eater. No one understood how she could have gotten colon cancer until we found out that her father died of it.
I have a couple of other friends, one of whose father just had surgery to remove part of his colon due to cancer, and another whose mother died of colon cancer. One does not want a colonoscopy, and the other is upset because she has not hit the magic age of 50, and she cannot have a colonoscopy that insurance will pay for.
I need to send a note of thanks to my gynecologist who got to me when I was vulnerable and railroaded me into having a colonoscopy.