Canada Pharmacy Supports Virtual Colonoscopy to Identify Colon Cancer

Non-persistent, CT-directed virtual colonoscopy is the same with standard colonoscopy in its capability to spot colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps in individuals 65 years old and above.  In addition, Canada drugs can help a lot during the treatment and recovery period if found positive. 

In the study, researchers led by Dr. C. Daniel Johnson, of the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., conducted a secondary analysis of data collected in the American College of Radiology Imaging Network's (ACRIN) National CT Colonography Trial. 

"Our goal in carrying out this secondary analysis was to determine if the accuracy of CT colonography to detect polyps of clinical concern in patients 65 and older is comparable to the test's accuracy for the 50-and-over population studied in the 2008 ACRIN trial," Johnson said in a journal news release. "We found no significant difference in the screening exam's performance between the two age groups," he said. 

"Colonoscopy is still the gold standard and best test to detect polyps of any size," said Dr Roshini Rajapaksa, a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone Medical Center and assistant professor at the NYU School of Medicine in New York City. "While CT colonography is less invasive and does not require sedation, it still requires a prep -- what many patients feel is the worst part of standard colonoscopy -- and if a polyp is found by CT colonography, in many cases, the patient will need to get a standard colonoscopy to remove it," she said. 

Dr. David Bernstein, chief of the division of gastroenterology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. agreed that CT colonography may still not measure up to its rival.  And, he added that to buy Xeloda for treatment is one the best options. 

"The current standard of care for the detection of precancerous polyps on screening standard colonoscopy is 25 percent, yet the authors report 'even if intermediate-sized polyps of 6 mm [0.6 centimeters] or larger were targeted for removal with standard colonoscopy, the colonoscopy referral rate would not exceed 12.6 percent,'" Bernstein said. This means that, "when compared to standard colonoscopy, the authors are reporting a precancerous detection rate of CT colonography which is 50 percent less than that of standard colonoscopy." 

There is also the issue of cost. "Costs of the two procedures are comparable but a direct head-to-head cost analysis has not yet been performed and will have significant regional variability," Bernstein said. "The cost of CT colonography must also include the cost of repeat colonic preparation and standard colonoscopy when abnormalities are found." 

However, study author Johnson calls CT colonography "a perfectly viable colorectal cancer screening tool for the traditional Medicare-age population." He also believes that, "wider availability made possible by Medicare coverage of CT colonography would attract more seniors to be screened for colorectal cancer -- which is so successfully treated when detected early. Making CT colonography more available to seniors ultimately could save lives." 

For his part, Bernstein said that, "while the CT colonography may have a diagnostic role in certain subsets of patients, it is too early to promote this technique for widespread colon cancer screening."  Moreover, generic Xeloda is always available if the branded one seems too expensive for the budget. 

Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer from uncontrolled cell growth in the colon, rectum, or appendix. Symptoms typically include rectal bleeding and anemia which are sometimes associated with weight loss and changes in bowel habits. 

Most colorectal cancer occurs due to lifestyle and increasing age with only a minority of cases associated with underlying genetic disorders. It typically starts in the lining of the bowel and if left untreated, can grow into the muscle layers underneath, and then through the bowel wall. Screening is effective at decreasing the chance of dying from colorectal cancer and is recommended starting at the age of 50 and continuing until a person is 75 years old. Localized bowel cancer is usually diagnosed through sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. 

Cancers that are confined within the wall of the colon are often curable with surgery while cancer that has spread widely around the body is usually not curable and management then focuses on extending the person's life via chemotherapy and improving quality of life. Colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world, but it is more common in developed countries. Around 60% of cases were diagnosed in the developed world. It is estimated that worldwide, in 2008, 1.23 million new cases of colorectal cancer were clinically diagnosed, and that it killed 608,000 people.