I also currently serve as President of the American College of Gastroenterology and practice at The Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore. To achieve growth in survival, it is clear that progress must be made in the early detection of malignant lesions and their removal. Preventive care and early detection are paramount in improving survival prospects and providing cost-effective care. Many people believe colorectal cancer attacks men predominately. This is a myth.
Colorectal cancer strikes men and women in almost equal numbers.
Most colorectal cancers develop from benign polyps and, when these polyps are removed, we can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 90 percent. Unfortunately, the stark reality remains that too many of these cancers go undetected until they are past the curable stage. These facts present a terrible contradiction in our system given that we have the tools through screening, early detection, and intervention, to eliminate up to 90 percent of these deaths. Ironically, Medicare patients are not covered for screening services. We fully concur with the provisions in H.R. 15 that define the category of high risk patients and provide this screening tool for patients recognized at high risk.