More than 30,000 lives could be saved every year if screening for colorectal cancer were more widespread, according to the American Cancer Society. Yet fewer than 42 percent of adults age 50 and older undergo colorectal screening. Fortunately, that may soon change.
According to a Mayo Clinic study, many Americans avoid getting screened for colorectal cancer because of the screening's preparation process. That process often involves drinking a difficult-to-tolerate liquid that cleanses the colon before the actual procedure.
However, patients can now forgo the bad-tasting liquid and instead take a tasteless tablet called OsmoPrep, which may be taken with any clear liquid. The availability of this easy and convenient new prescription tablet may encourage people to be tested for colon cancer, potentially helping to save thousands of lives. Colorectal cancer detection at an early stage results in a five-year survival rate of 90 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. Currently, only 40 percent of colorectal cancers are detected early, due to low screening rates.
"OsmoPrep represents a new choice for patients unable to tolerate high-volume liquid preparations," says Douglas Rex, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Indianapolis University School of Medicine and Director of Endoscopy, Indiana University Hospital. "It provides excellent colon cleansing in a highly tolerable tablet formulation, making colonoscopies simple for both the physician and the patient."
The American Cancer Society recommends that all people 50 and older get screened for colorectal cancer and that people with certain risk factors for the disease-such as a history of colorectal cancer, previous detection of polyps or Crohn's disease-get tested even earlier. The group has set a national goal of having 75 percent of all people over 50 screened for the disease. So far, no U.S. state has met that goal, and nationally, fewer than 40 percent of Americans over 50 have had their colonoscopies. This new tablet may help change those statistics.
Note to Editor: OSMOPREP™ Tablets (sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate, USP, and sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous, USP) are indicated for cleansing of the colon as a preparation for colonoscopy in adults 18 years of age or older. Considerable caution should be advised before OsmoPrep Tablets are used in patients with severe renal insufficiency, congestive heart failure, ascites, unstable angina, gastric retention, ileus, acute obstruction or pseudo-obstruction of the bowel, severe chronic constipation, bowel perforation, acute colitis, toxic megacolon, gastric bypass or stapling surgery, or hypomotility syndrome. Use with caution in patients with impaired renal function, patients with a history of acute phosphate nephropathy, known or suspected electrolyte disturbances (such as dehydration), or people taking drugs that affect electrolyte levels. Patients with electrolyte abnormalities such as hypernatremia, hyperphosphatemia, hypokalemia, or hypocalcemia should have their electrolytes corrected before treatment with OsmoPrep Tablets.
For more information on the tablet, visit the Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. website at www.salix.com. For more information on colorectal cancer, colonoscopies and risk factors for the disease, talk to your health care provider.
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