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Article: Colon cancer screenings can stop at 75

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Posted 10/15/2008 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081007/ap_on_he_me/med_colon_cancer;_ylt=ApJ0PyQD1NR7FhcOOYG4HzFZ24cA

I found this interesting, but don't know how to take it since I'm not close to that age...

Posted 10/15/2008 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
They are weighing cost-to-benefit ratios & generalizing to come up with policy recommendations. There are always exceptions to rules. Back when I was 1st diagnosed in 1980, my gastro told me about a 78 yr-old man who was too frail for major surgery, but who was doing well several months after she removed a malignant-core polyp from his ascending colon via c-scope. Doctors who care about individual patients would likely ignore this age 75 recommendation! / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])

Posted 10/15/2008 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
They also say PSA screening for prostate cancer can stop at 65, but most doctors offer their patients the screening anyway. The recommendations are based on the fact that statistically, people of that age would die sooner than the cancer would kill them anyway. Which of course is bull. For example, my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer and, despite surgery and aggressive treatment, died 6 years later. I suspect we all know people in their 80's who are active, involved members of society and who enjoy life tremendously.

Think of this as the same thing as saying it isn't necessary to try to save babies who weigh less than 2 pounds at birth, because so many don't survive and the ones who do have high rates of developmental problems. Everyone would be outraged, but somehow it's okay to just let the old folks die.
Posted 10/15/2008 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Well, for sure the Feds are anxious to get rid of older people with health problems. Why else would they double Medicare monthly premiums suddenly in 2004, after they had had steady, modest increases during the 39 previous years that Medicare existed? To parcel care out to private insurers at higher cost, that's why! / Old Hat
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