CA current issue

[NEWS & VIEWS] ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES AND OVARIAN CANCER RISK

2008-05-06

[NEWS & VIEWS] COPAYS DETER WOMEN FROM GETTING MAMMOGRAMS

2008-05-06

[ARTICLES] Screening and Surveillance for the Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer and Adenomatous Polyps, 2008: A Joint Guideline from the American Cancer Society, the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology

2008-05-06

In the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed among men and women and the second leading cause of death from cancer. CRC largely can be prevented by the detection and removal of adenomatous polyps, and survival is significantly better when CRC is diagnosed while still localized. In 2006 to 2007, the American Cancer Society, the US Multi Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology came together to develop consensus guidelines for the detection of adenomatous polyps and CRC in asymptomatic average-risk adults. In this update of each organization's guidelines, screening tests are grouped into those that primarily detect cancer early and those that can detect cancer early and also can detect adenomatous polyps, thus providing a greater potential for prevention through polypectomy. When possible, clinicians should make patients aware of the full range of screening options, but at a minimum they should be prepared to offer patients a choice between a screening test that is effective at both early cancer detection and cancer prevention through the detection and removal of polyps and a screening test that primarily is effective at early cancer detection. It is the strong opinion of these 3 organizations that colon cancer prevention should be the primary goal of screening.

[ERRATA]

2008-05-06

[ARTICLES] Cancer Screening in the United States, 2008: A Review of Current American Cancer Society Guidelines and Cancer Screening Issues

Smith, R. A., Cokkinides, V., Brawley, O. W. — 2008-05-06

Each year the American Cancer Society (ACS) publishes a summary of its recommendations for early cancer detection and a summary of the most current data on cancer screening rates and trends in US adults. In 2007, the ACS updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines in a collaborative effort with the US Multi-Society Task Force and the American College of Radiology. In this issue of the journal, we summarize the current ACS guidelines, provide an update of the most recent data pertaining to participation rates in cancer screening from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the National Health Interview Survey, and address some issues related to access to care.

[ARTICLES] The Staging of Cancer: A Retrospective and Prospective Appraisal

Greene, F. L., Sobin, L. H. — 2008-05-06

The tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classification describes the anatomic extent of cancer. The ability to separately classify the individual T, N, and M elements and then group them into stages differs from other cancer staging classifications, which are primarily concerned with summarized groups. The objectives of the TNM system are to aid clinicians and investigators in planning treatment, assessing prognosis, stratifying patients for therapeutic studies, evaluating the results of treatment, and facilitating communication. The most important challenge facing TNM is how to interface the current taxonomy with the numerous nonanatomic prognostic factors currently in use or under study. As nonanatomic prognostic factors become widely used, TNM will remain a solid foundation on which to build prognostic classifications. There is, however, a risk that this system will be corrupted by a variety of irrelevant prognostic data. An anatomic extent of disease classification is needed to provide a standard against which to measure the importance of nonanatomic factors. Methods are needed to express overall prognosis without losing the vital anatomic content of TNM. These methods should be able to integrate multiple prognostic factors, including TNM, yet permit TNM to remain intact and distinct.