title: Results of a television-advertised public screening program for colorectal cancer.
abstract: We report the results of a free, television-advertised mass screening program for colorectal cancer using stool guaiac kits. A total of 57,000 test kits were picked up and 29,619 (53%) were returned; 3.9% (1165) of the tests were positive. Ninety-three percent of persons with a positive screen sought medical evaluation after screening. Detailed follow-up was available on 744 persons. Fifty-eight persons had large-bowel carcinomas diagnosed, 80% of which were localized. One hundred sixty persons had adenomatous polyps removed. Forty percent of cancers and 58% of polyps were detected in persons with only one or two positive test slides out of a total of six. In 33% of persons with a positive screen, the diagnostic workup consisted of a repeated stool guaiac test and/or sigmoidoscopy only. A major drawback to improving the results of mass screening programs for colorectal cancer is the limited gastrointestinal workup conducted by physicians in many persons with a positive fecal occult blood test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: McGarrity
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Peiffer
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Converse
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Kreig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000191:economics; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D013690:Television