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4B LIFE/tr^eCliaciotte Thursday, April 5, 2007 Colon checks rising, but not enough THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON - Sam Monismith was prepped and ready to begin his colonoscopy when health workers brought the uni versity professor awkward news: His insurance was not going to cover the colon cancer check. They wanted a signed promise to pay, or the test was off. Monismith hesitated only briefly — and the test un covered nine polyps, pre- cancerous growths in his colon. Even better, because doctors removed them on the spot, the bill switched from a cancer screening that insurance would not pay into a surgical proce dure it did. "The irony of it is if 1 had n’t had any polyps, I would have had to pay," says Monismith, 54, who has had additional polyps re moved in the four years since that first check. "I’m just glad I got the test." Insurers insist Monismith is a rarity and that most in surance does cover colon cancer screening once peo ple hit age 50, when the risk starts to rise. Still, can cer advocacy groups have begun a push to ensure the last holdouts cover all four government-recommended options —from the$20 an nual stool sample to once- a-decade colonoscopies that can exceed $1,000, Fifteen U.S, states are considering legislative mandates, by the American Cancer Society’s count; 19 - other states have long had such laws. The legislative tussle ac tually highlights tougher is sues: Insurance aside, people are reluctant to get checked for America's No, 2 cancer killer. Nearly 42 million Americans over 50 are not getting screened. Even though Medicare has long covered the checks for those over 65—and colono scopies are rising-only about half of its recipients get properly screened. "It is a patient education" issue, contends Mohit Ghose, spokesman for America’s Health Insurance Plans, which opposes the mandates. And is the pricey colonoscopy that studies suggest more people prefer really the better lest? "Here’s where the prob lem lies: I think people are willing to undergo colonoscopy,” says Dr. Arden Morris, a colon can cer surgeon at the Univer sity of Michigan. They are less willing to do fecal test ing — many “think it’s re ally gross” — or other options that do not give as full a view of the colon. “On the other hand, if everybody who’s eligible gets a colonoscopy, we’re going to break the bank,” Morris warns, ' 'Then who gets screening when we don’t have money left? I think this is a really intrigu ing question," Some 153,760 Americans will be diagnosed with col orectal cancer this year, and more than 52,000 will die. The government says up to 60 percent of those deaths could be prevented if everyone over age 50 un derwent routine screening. It is not Just a matter of catching the cancer when it is still small and more eas ily treated. The disease usually starts with toad stool-like growths called polyps that can take a decade to turn cancerous. Remove them in time, and the cancer never even forms. The government backs four screening options. Most used are annual at- home fecal tests to detect hidden blood in the stool and once-a-decade colono scopies, where doctors use a long, flexible tube to visu ally inspect the colon. (The others are sigmoidoscopy, an exam of the lower colon only, and a less-used bar ium enema, repeated every five years.) The good news; Deaths are declining faster for col orectal cancer than for any other cancer, a 5.7 percent drop between 2003 and 2004 that scientists credit to small upticks in screen ing. Where is the improve ment? Mostly, it is in in creasing colonoscopies, says Michigan’s Morris, A study published in Decem ber found an almost seven fold increase in routine colonoscopies once Medicare started covering them in 2001. Even though for most people the cheaper fecal- blood tests are equally ef fective, other studies have found problems getting people to repeat them year after year as required. Mor ris says. "People hate doing" them. Wni)' TtiRii 'tiW fHI ■‘Hflh'ilRrf) ft (W>fts ft Wf .tiXtjihlilk tti m^mii SISTER MARGO "I was born to help others. Sun in Aquarius, ,00 & Saturn in Pisces, with gifted God power communication ability toTielp others. They call her the landmark of Charlotte. Others have come and gone, but Sister Margo is still here to help you resolve problems with marriage, illnesses and body sores, addiction, money and more. God gave her the power to heal and protect. CALL TODAY! Look for h Sister Margo's in front of her home. 28i3 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC zSzos ^ 70+-374-9160 Don't want to miss her? Call 704-777-7661 The Charlotte Post 704-376-0496 Easter Egg-Stravaganza 7:00 - 8:30 a.m. Coffee, Continental Breakfast & Conversation about the true meaning of Ecister 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Christian Karaoke for Adults 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. Children’s Easter Party 9:(X) - 9:30 a.m. Children’s Easter Play 10:00 a.m. Easter Worship Service MASttRPEAC-E CHMSTIAM Tniy:; m Masterpeace Christian Center First Ward Recreational Center (Carole Hoeffner Center) 610 E. 7th St. • Charlotte, NC 704.651.9898 www.masterpeacechristiancenter.com Build bridges... ...to foster spiritual relationships in our community Dr. James R. Samuel Pastor rMRk Pmtexm: QemwSiJDtitWD* 2315 TMft ON*^ At your North Carolina Touchstone Energy cooperatives, family is important to us, coo. That’s why we stick together. As one, we work hard to help keep rates affordable and service reliable. There is strength in our numbers, making us a stronger family that’s fochsed on being there for yours. 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