Early diagnostic screening for colorectal cancer continues to be essential in reducing CRC-related mortality rate, according to Pharmacy Times.
Three things to know:
1. CRC has a 64.4 percent five-year survival rate, but there has been a decline in CRC-related mortality over the last 20 years.
2. CRC is more prevalent in men, with the highest percentage of deaths occurring in the 75- to 84-year-old age range.
3. Early screening is key to reducing CRC mortality. From 2000 to 2015, screening rates increased from 38.9 percent to 82.7 percent, which was associated with a 25.5 percent reduction in CRC incidence and a 52.4 percent reduction in cancer mortality.
Researchers concluded: "Early diagnosis of CRC has shown optimal prognosis for survival, yet many barriers to screening still exist. Clinicians should provide risk stratifications in patients to determine who would benefit from early screenings before age 50. Although data indicate[s] that early screening may be the key to reduce mortality rates of CRC, new treatments with biological agents and vaccines are creating a pathway to treat patients with metastatic CRC."