Author Interviews, Colon Cancer / 05.09.2014
Bowel Cancer Screening May Have Small Unwanted Lifestyle Effect
MedicalResearch.com Interview Invitation
Paula Berstad, PhD, postdoc
Telemark Hospital
c/o Cancer Registry of Norway
Oslo, Norway
Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Berstad: In general population of age 50-55 years, both those invited to bowel cancer screening in year 2001 by flexible sigmoidoscopy and those not invited improved their lifestyle from year 2001 to 2012. Lifestyle was measured as adherence to public health guidelines; non-smoking, daily physical exercise, healthy diet and normal body weight. However, the 11-year improvement was smaller in those who were screened for bowel cancer compared to those not screened. Further, among those who attended the screening, the improvement was smaller in those with findings at screening (positive screening result) compared to those without findings (negative screening result). Our interpretation of the findings is that bowel cancer screening may have a small unwanted effect on lifestyle. Particularly, attention should be given to lifestyle among those testing positive at screening.
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