SURVIVAL OF PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH COLORECTAL-CANCER THROUGH A TELEVISION-ADVERTISED SCREENING-PROGRAM

Objectives: Although controversial, fecal occult blood testing (FORT) is advocated to reduce mortality due to colorectal cancer, Our aim was to determine whether a television-advertised screening program for co lorectal cancer using fecal occult blood tests improved survival of pa tients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, Methods A retrospective analy sis of the stage and survival of patients diagnosed with colorectal ca ncer in our 1986 and 1987 screening programs was conducted, The 5-yr s urvival rate of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer was determin ed in our screened population and compared with national survival data from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, End Re sults (SEER) program, Results: In our screening programs, 75,633 FOBT were distributed and returned for analysis, Test slides were positive in 3.3%, Follow-up was available in 121 of 131 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, In our screened population, significantly more col orectal cancers were identified in a localized stage compared with the national average (76 vs 37%), Consequently, the percentage of our pat ients with regional and distant disease was decreased compared with SE ER data, The overall 5-yr survival rate of patients with colorectal ca ncer who participated in our screening program was significantly highe r than the national survival rate (75 vs 59%), Survival of patients ol der than 75 yr of age with colorectal cancer in our screening program was not improved, Conclusions: Television-advertised screening for col orectal cancer using FOBT was effective in recruiting a large number o f participants, Patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer in our progr am tended to have early stage disease with improved 5-yr survival, The results of this study support FOBT as an effective means to reduce th e mortality of colorectal cancer.