| Theme | Preventive Medical Screening and Health Check-ups for Dialysis patients | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Screening for cancer of upper and lower digestive tract | |
| Publish Date | 2009/02 | |
| Author | Naoki Matsuhashi | Tajima Clinic |
| [ Summary ] | In Japan, digestive tract malignancy is one of the major causes of cancer related death. Japanese population-based screening for gastric and colon cancers, barium meal studies and fecal occult blood tests have reduced mortality rates and demonstrated significant benefits for the public health. Though both cancer mortality rates and incidence rates are suspected to be higher in dialysis patients than in the general population, no guidelines for cancer screening in dialysis patients have been published in Japan. There is not yet any clear evidence that cancer screening improves prognoses for Japanese dialysis patients. At present, each doctor caring for dialysis patients should conduct patient based deliberation for cancer screening strategies. |
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