// BEGIN editorial data
 var i = 0;
var colon_wb3 = new Array();
colon_wb3.sName = "colon_wb3";
colon_wb3.ID = "colon_wb3";
colon_wb3.sPubDate = "12/8/2003 6:55:15 PM GMT";
colon_wb3.mainsectionID = "HEALTH"
colon_wb3.navsectionID = "HEALTH"
colon_wb3.appFmt = 2;
colon_wb3.itemsPerPage = 1;
colon_wb3.appWidth = 460;
colon_wb3.appHeader = "FACT FILE|Colon cancer screening";
colon_wb3.appFooter = "Sources: NBC's 'Today' show, American Cancer Society, Associated Press ";
colon_wb3.appNavStyle = 3;
colon_wb3.appLayout = 3;
colon_wb3.headHeight = 40;
colon_wb3.copyHeight = 155;
colon_wb3.copyWidth = 320;
colon_wb3.copyMargin = 9;
colon_wb3[i++] = new Array("","About","","","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "", "200", "200", "", "", "", "", "");
colon_wb3[i-1].body = "About 135,400 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year and 56,700 patients will die. But early detection can be a lifesaver. Click on a topic to learn more.";

colon_wb3[i++] = new Array("","Screening guidelines","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
colon_wb3[i-1].body = "Beginning at age 50, the American Cancer Society recommends that both men and women at average risk should have one of the following screening regimens:<br><ul><li>Fecal occult blood test every year*<li>Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years*<li>Yearly fecal occult blood test plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years* (Of the first three options, ACS prefers this one)<li>Double contrast barium enema every five years*<li>Colonoscopy every 10 years*</ul>*A digital rectal exam should be done at the same time as sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy or double-contrast barium enema. People considered “high risk” should undergo more frequent screening of the entire colon, usually with colonoscopy, beginning at a younger age. Talk to your doctor about the schedule best for you";

colon_wb3[i++] = new Array("","People at high risk","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
colon_wb3[i-1].body = "People considered at &quot;high risk&quot; for colorectal cancer are those with:<ul><li>A strong family history of colorectal cancer or polyps <li> A family history of familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) <li>A personal history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps<li>A personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)</ul>";

colon_wb3[i++] = new Array("","Screening methods","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
colon_wb3[i-1].body = "Here are some of the techniques used to help detect the disease early: <p> <b>Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT): </b>This is a stool test that looks for microscopic amounts of fecal blood that cannot be seen on visual inspection. This test, also referred to as the “stool guaiac,” is performed by placing a small amount of stool on a specially treated card that is developed in the doctor’s office or lab. If the card turns blue, the test is positive. A fecal blood test costs just $10 to $25.  <p> <b>Double contrast barium enema:</b> This radiographic procedure uses a material called barium that “lights up” on X-rays. Barium and air are delivered to the colon by means of a tube that is inserted into the rectum. This is solely a diagnostic procedure, done without sedation.  <p> <b>Flexible sigmoidoscopy:</b> A flexible tube with a light and camera on the end (called an endoscope) is inserted into the rectum and lower third of the colon. If identified, polyps can be removed at the same time and biopsied. This procedure is usually done without sedation and lasts about five to 15 minutes. Sigmoidoscopy, which costs $100 to $200, uses a less-sophisticated viewing tube than colonoscopy and cannot probe the colon’s top two-thirds, where growths become more common, dangerous and hard to detect with age.  <p> <b>Colonoscopy: </b>This procedure is similar to the flexible sigmoidoscopy except that the entire colon is visualized. Sedation is used to make patients comfortable. If identified, polyps can be removed at the same time and biopsied. This procedure takes 20 to 45 minutes. Costing at least $1,000, colonoscopy is about 95 percent accurate and is currently only recommended every 10 years, starting around age 60 for people with no family history of colon cancer.";

	// END editorial data