Private MD News

Study: Colon cancer testing most effective in early morning

Category: Colon

Colonoscopies performed in the early morning detect more polyps than colon cancer testing done later in the day, according to new research.

A study that appears in the November issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that the number of colon polyps found during testing decreases by the hour throughout the day, HealthDay News reports.

Based on analysis of 477 people who had colonoscopies in a one-year period at a Veterans Affairs hospital, researchers from the University of California found that colon cancer testing starting at 8:30 a.m. or earlier detected 27 percent more polyps per patient than procedures done later in the day.

In their report, the investigators hypothesized that improved bowel preparation during the night and doctor fatigue may play roles in the declining detection.

Despite the findings, the study's co-author Dr Brennan M.R. Spiegel told the news source, "Patients should feel confident that colonoscopy is helpful regardless of time and day and should be more focused on the quality and experience of their doctor rather than the time of their appointment."

According to WebMD, removing polyps can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 60 to 90 percent.