People with more than ten years of screening show reduced rates of death from colon cancer, according to Danish scientists.

The faecal occult blood test (FOBT) is a proven method of detecting early colon cancer. Researchers from Odense University Hospital in Denmark now show the value of this screen done over a long time period.

They had more than 60,000 individuals have either the FOBT or no test every two years from 1985. When they went into the seventh screening round, there was no difference in rates of colon cancer between the two groups - with over 11,000 people having had each of the seven tests. But the mortality rates were different. Those having the screen had a 0.66 relative chance of dying from colorectal cancer compared to those who had no screening. This is an eight per cent lower chance of death in the lower colon and rectum and a 28 per cent lower chance of cancer elsewhere in the colon. The findings strongly suggest that a long time screening programme for colon cancer can be a lifesaver.

Source

Gut January 2002