Sigmoidoscopy News and Research

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Sigmoidoscopy is the examination of the lower colon using a sigmoidoscope, inserted into the rectum. A sigmoidoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to remove tissue to be checked under a microscope for signs of disease. Also called proctosigmoidoscopy.

Rectal cancer deaths in older millennials are rising rapidly

Rectal cancer deaths among older millennials are accelerating, with growth in mortality far outpacing colon cancer, suggesting primary care doctors should fully investigate early symptoms in patients under age 45, according to a study to be presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026.

23 Apr 2026

Lifetime heavy drinking sharply raises colorectal cancer risk, major US study finds

Lifetime alcohol intake, not just recent drinking, is associated with colorectal cancer risk in older adults followed in the PLCO Cancer Screening Trial. Heavy and consistent long-term drinking was linked to higher colorectal cancer risk, while alcohol cessation was associated with lower odds of early, nonadvanced adenomas.

28 Jan 2026

Study finds low uptake of colorectal cancer testing among adults aged 45 to 49

UCLA research finds that fewer than 1 in 4 eligible younger adults completed colorectal cancer screenings after the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lowered the recommended screening age to 45 from 50.

18 Nov 2025

Severe obesity linked to lower rates of recommended cancer screenings

In a recent cross-sectional study, researchers from Pennington Biomedical Research Center found that severe obesity is associated with a lower rate of cancer screenings.

22 Sep 2025

Preventing colorectal cancer through lifestyle choices

The evidence is clear - screening for colorectal cancer may save one's life. Today, more and more people are choosing colorectal cancer screening. As a result, there is a steady decline in the number of older people getting and dying from colorectal cancer. Lower rates of smoking among Americans have also contributed to the decline in the past several years.

19 Feb 2025

Oral vancomycin induces PSC-IBD remission, driving gut microbiome and metabolic shifts

Findings indicate oral vancomycin induces remission in PSC-IBD, with notable microbiota changes and inflammation reduction, reversing after treatment ends.

13 Feb 2025

TTUHSC receives nearly $2.3 million in CPRIT grants to support cancer research

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) recently awarded grants to four researchers from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC).

12 Oct 2023

Exercise boosts immune defense in Lynch syndrome patients

Aerobic exercise, specifically cycling, shows promise in reducing inflammation and boosting immune responses in the colonic tissue of Lynch syndrome patients, a group at high risk for colorectal cancer. The study suggests that regular exercise may offer a preventive approach for this patient population, though further randomized trials are needed.

24 Sep 2023

Managing inflammatory bowel disease during pregnancy

Researchers presented information on scientific evidence-based inflammatory bowel disease management methods during pregnancy.

7 Aug 2023

Colorectal cancer doesn’t wait - DNA methylation tests facilitate earlier treatment

In this interview, Yantao Li and Zhe Wang, Director of Cancer Early Screening Products and the Product Director of Oncology at BGI Genomics, talks to NewsMedical about colorectal cancer (CRC), including why incidences are important and the importance of screening.

From BGI Genomics 6 Dec 2022

Novel scoring tools developed for predicting risk of colon cancer and precancerous polyps

Researchers have created novel scoring tools for predicting actual risk of colon cancer and advanced precancerous polyps for patients at average for the disease.

5 Oct 2021

Vitamin D intake associated with lower risk of developing young-onset colorectal cancer

Consuming higher amounts of Vitamin D – mainly from dietary sources – may help protect against developing young-onset colorectal cancer or precancerous colon polyps, according to the first study to show such an association.

17 Aug 2021

Medicare could save nearly $500 million per year by reducing use of low-value preventive care services

A UCLA-led study shows that physicians frequently order preventive medical services for adult Medicare beneficiaries that are considered unnecessary and of "low value" by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force - at a cost of $478 million per year.

29 Apr 2021

Study shows lack knowledge about colonoscopy among high-risk patients

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States and advanced colorectal polyps are a major risk factor.

14 Sep 2020

Physical activity in adolescence associated with 39% reduction in risk of colorectal adenoma

The effects of more than 60 minutes of moderate daily physical exercise, such as walking, accumulate throughout life and are associated with a 39% reduction in the risk of advanced adenomatous polyps, a precursor of colorectal cancer, the third most frequent type of cancer in Brazil.

19 Aug 2019

Five states that adopted Medicaid expansion saw larger increases in CRC screening

A new study examining Medicaid expansion and cancer screening finds that the five states and District of Columbia that first adopted Medicaid expansion saw larger increases in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening than those states that did not expand Medicaid.

22 May 2019

U.K. guidelines for tests drastically differ from those in the U.S, reports Sah

Dr. Sunita Sah practiced general medicine for several years in the United Kingdom's National Health Service. When she came to the United States, she noticed something strange.

8 Apr 2019

Ten year follow-up after negative colonoscopy related to reduced risk of colorectal cancer

Ten years after a negative colonoscopy, Kaiser Permanente members had 46 percent lower risk of being diagnosed with and were 88 percent less likely to die from colorectal cancer compared with those who did not undergo colorectal cancer screening, according to a study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine.

17 Dec 2018

Tailored lifestyle recommendations during colorectal cancer screening promote healthy behaviors

A program that provided individually tailored lifestyle recommendations for patients undergoing screening for colorectal cancer helped encourage healthy behavior, according to results published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

3 Dec 2018

New ACS guidelines recommend early screening for colorectal cancer

New guidelines developed by the American Cancer Society recommend that screening for colorectal cancer for average-risk adults begin at age 45, five years earlier than the previous recommendation.

1 Jun 2018