Month: September 2013

Screening tests for colon cancer reduce deaths by one-third to one-half, 2 new studies find. The first study included nearly 89,000 health professionals. Researchers kept track of them for about 22 years. People who had a screening colonoscopy that found no problems were 56% less likely to die of colon cancer than those who had no screening tests. Colon cancer deaths were 40% lower for people who had a screening sigmoidoscopy that found no problems. Both tests look at the inside of the colon. A colonoscopy looks at the whole colon. A sigmoidoscopy looks at only the lower portion. A second study randomly divided 46,500 older adults into 3 groups. Two groups received fecal occult blood tests. This test looks for blood in the stool, which can indicate possible colon cancer. The third group received “usual care.” Few people in this group got the test.

A program of long-term support may not help people with addictions any more than a brief visit and treatment referral, a study suggests. The study included nearly 600 adults who abused alcohol or drugs. They were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group was assigned to a program of chronic care management. It included medical care at a primary care clinic. People also received addiction and psychiatric treatment. They got counseling to help keep up their motivation and prevent relapse. People in the other group saw a primary care doctor and received a list of addiction treatment resources. They also could get 4 sessions aimed at strengthening their motivation to quit, and follow-up care. After a year, 44% of those in the chronic care group had quit drinking or using drugs. About 42% of those in the other group also had quit.