Flexible sigmoidoscopy provides substantial protection from colorectal cancer for up to 17 years, a study published in The Lancent shows.
England-based Imperial College London Professor Wendy Atkin, PhD, led a study published in The Lancet examining sigmoidoscopy effectiveness at 17 years post-procedure.
Researchers examined 170,432 men and women in a multicenter randomized trial. The experimental group had flexible sigmoidoscopies performed, while the control group were monitored. Researchers measured incidence and mortality rates.
Researchers performed 40,621 sigmoidoscopies and 112,936 controls.
Here are four findings:
1. Researchers diagnosed colorectal cancer in 1,230 screened patients and 3,253 controls.
2. Of those patients, 353 screened individuals and 996 controls died.
3. In an intent-to-treat analysis, screening reduced colorectal cancer incidence by 26 percent, versus the control.
4. In a per-protocol analysis, the screened group's colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rate were 35 percent and 41 percent lower than the control.
Researchers concluded, "A single flexible sigmoidoscopy continues to provide substantial protection from colorectal cancer diagnosis and death, with protection lasting at least 17 years."