To the Editor,

I would like to share the results of a 1-year study completed at the Gastrointestinal (GI) Department of Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. This study looked at incidence of polyp type in patients undergoing screening colonoscopy. The patient had to undergo a colonoscopy for the first time in the absence of significant GI findings such as abdominal pain or bleeding. Patients were closely interviewed to verify parameters of screening. Patients with a positive family history for colon cancer were included in the study as long as they met the other criteria. The data represented 425 cases; of these, 45% had any type of polyp. Significantly, 28% of the total population had precancerous polyps (22% adenomas, 4% tubullovillous, and 2% villous).

We are all too aware that colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death overall. David Perrera, MD, Seattle WA, stated at the 2005 SGNA Conference that CRC is the leading cause of death in nonsmokers!! Yet, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 30-60% of the general population aged above 50 years has not undergone any type of CRC screening. These facts and more compel us to keep spreading the word that screening saves lives!!

Mary Botsford, RN

Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin