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Colon Cancer: Only 60 Percent of Americans Over 50 Are Screened

The Reporting on Health Daily Briefing

Colon Cancer: Only 60 Percent of Americans Over 50 Are Screened

Picture of Barbara Feder Ostrov
By Barbara Feder Ostrov
March 06, 2012


colon cancer, colonoscopy

Colon Cancer:

 All Americans should be screened for colon cancer starting at age 50, according to new guidelines from an influential doctor's group. Colon cancer kills 51,000 people in the U.S. each year, yet only about 60 percent of Americans older than 50 get colonoscopies or other types of screening, Ryan Jaslow reports for CBS News.

Depression: Should pregnant women with depression take antidepressants? A new study links antidepressants with pre-term birth and some birth defects, but health experts say untreated depression can hurt baby too – so the jury's still out, Maia Szalavitz reports for Time.

Health Reform: Unlike some states that are stalling on implementing the new health reform law, Oregon is moving forward with changes that go well beyond federal mandates in hopes that they'll reduce costs and encourage preventive health care, Jonathan J. Cooper reports for the Associated Press.

Addiction: The U.S. Navy will start random drug testing of sailors after finding that dozens of sailors on its aircraft carriers were discharged last year after using drugs, including the synthetic drug Spice, which mimics marijuana, Reuters reports.

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