Publications by authors named "Paula Berstad"

Background: The Norwegian colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program started in May 2022. Inequalities in CRC screening participation are a challenge, and we expect that certain groups, such as immigrants, are at risk of non-participation. Prior to the start of the national screening program, a pilot study showed lower participation rates in CRC screening among immigrants from Pakistan.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Stool samples for fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) are collected in large numbers worldwide as part of colorectal cancer screening programs. Employing FIT samples from 1034 CRCbiome participants, recruited from a Norwegian colorectal cancer screening study, we identify, annotate and characterize more than 18000 DNA viruses, using shotgun metagenome sequencing. Only six percent of them are assigned to a known taxonomic family, with Microviridae being the most prevalent viral family.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In this study, we aimed to provide novel evidence on the impact of changing lifestyle habits on cancer risk. In the EPIC cohort, 295,865 middle-aged participants returned a lifestyle questionnaire at baseline and during follow-up. At both timepoints, we calculated a healthy lifestyle index (HLI) score based on cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index and physical activity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Organized cancer screening programs should be equally accessible for all groups in society. We assessed differences in participation in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among different immigrant groups.

Methods: Between 2012 and 2019, 140,000 individuals aged 50 to 74 years were randomly invited to sigmoidoscopy or repeated faecal immunochemical test (FIT) in a CRC screening trial.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To explore attendance at organised mammographic screening among immigrant groups that received an invitation letter and information leaflet (invitation) in their language of origin and Norwegian compared with Norwegian only.

Design: Randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Population based screening programme for breast cancer in Norway (BreastScreen Norway), which invites women aged 50-69 to two-view mammographic screening biennially.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Effective risk stratification tools for post-polypectomy colorectal cancer (PPCRC) are lacking. We aimed to develop an effective risk stratification tool for the prediction of PPCRC in three large population-based cohorts and to validate the tool in a clinical cohort.

Methods: Leveraging the integrated endoscopic, histopathologic and epidemiologic data in three U.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: While adherence to cancer prevention recommendations is linked to lower risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), few have studied associations across the entire spectrum of colorectal carcinogenesis. Here, we studied the relationship of the standardized 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) Score for cancer prevention recommendations with detection of colorectal lesions in a screening setting. As a secondary objective, we examined to what extent the recommendations were being followed in an external cohort of CRC patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The microbiome has been implicated in the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) in cross-sectional studies. However, there is a lack of studies using prospectively collected samples.

Methods: From the Norwegian Colorectal Cancer Prevention (NORCCAP) trial, we analyzed 144 archived fecal samples from participants who were diagnosed with CRC or high-risk adenoma (HRA) at screening and from participants who remained cancer-free during 17 years of follow-up.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Individuals with colorectal polypectomy are recommended to undergo surveillance colonoscopies at certain intervals to prevent subsequent colorectal cancer. Use of postpolypectomy surveillance according to the 2006 US Multi-Society Task Force (USMSTF) recommendations in an integrated health care system was investigated.

Methods: Use of surveillance colonoscopies was prospectively assessed among 3691 patients with removal of high-risk polyps at a screening colonoscopy during 2007-2012 in the Mass General Brigham Colonoscopy Cohort.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The Norwegian colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programme started in May 2022. Inequities in uptake of CRC screening is a concern, and we expect that immigrants are at risk of non-uptake. Immigrants from Poland are the most populous immigrant group in Norway.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: We investigated the impact of changes in lifestyle habits on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in a multicountry European cohort.

Methods: We used baseline and follow-up questionnaire data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer cohort to assess changes in lifestyle habits and their associations with CRC development. We calculated a healthy lifestyle index (HLI) score based on smoking status, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and physical activity collected at the 2 time points.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening programs depends on the participation rate. This study examined the association between type and severity of mental illness and colorectal cancer screening participation.

Methods: Between 2012 and 2017, a total of 46,919 individuals were invited to sigmoidoscopy screening in Norway, and 70,019 were invited to fecal immunochemical testing.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Limited data exist regarding the role of meat consumption in early-stage colorectal carcinogenesis. We examined associations of red and processed meat intake with screen-detected colorectal lesions in immunochemical fecal occult blood test (FIT)-positive participants, enrolled in the Norwegian CRCbiome study during 2017-2021, aged 55-77 years. Absolute and energy-adjusted intakes of red and processed meat (combined and individually) were assessed using a validated, semi-quantitative FFQ.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: High participation rates are important for a colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programme to be effective. Having a long travelling distance to screening centres may impede participation.

Methods: We analysed the association between driving time from home address to screening centre and participation among individuals invited to screening with faecal immunochemical test (FIT) (n = 68,624) or sigmoidoscopy (n = 46,076) in a randomized trial in Norway in 2012-17.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Public health systems should guarantee universal access to health care services, including cancer screening. We assessed whether certain population subgroups were underrepresented among participants in colorectal cancer screening with sigmoidoscopy and faecal immunochemical testing (FIT). Between 2012 and 2019, about 140 000 individuals aged 50 to 74 years were randomly invited to once-only sigmoidoscopy or first round of FIT screening.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Consistent participation in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with repeated fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is important for the success of the screening program. We investigated whether lifestyle risk factors for CRC were related to inconsistent participation in up to four rounds of FIT-screening.

Method: We included data from 3,051 individuals who participated in up to four FIT-screening rounds and returned a lifestyle questionnaire.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening reduces CRC incidence and mortality. However, current screening methods are either hampered by invasiveness or suboptimal performance, limiting their effectiveness as primary screening methods. To aid in the development of a non-invasive screening test with improved sensitivity and specificity, we have initiated a prospective biomarker study (CRCbiome), nested within a large randomized CRC screening trial in Norway.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The impact of lifestyle changes on cancer risk is yet to be elucidated. We investigated this issue in the Swedish Women's Lifestyle and Health Cohort Study.

Material And Methods: We measured changes by comparing two questionnaires, filled in 1991/92 and 2003.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Lifestyle factors may help to identify individuals at high-risk for colorectal cancer (CRC).

Aims: To examine the association between lifestyle, referral for follow-up colonoscopy and proximal neoplasia detection in CRC screening.

Methods: In this observational study, 14,832 individuals aged 50-74 years were invited to faecal immunochemical test (FIT) or sigmoidoscopy screening.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background & Aims: The comparative effectiveness of sigmoidoscopy and fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is unknown.

Methods: Individuals aged 50-74 years living in Southeast Norway were randomly invited between 2012 and 2019 to either once-only flexible sigmoidoscopy or FIT screening every second year. Colonoscopy was recommended after sigmoidoscopy if any polyp of ≥10 mm, ≥3 adenomas, any advanced adenomas, or CRC was found or, subsequent to, FIT >15 μg hemoglobin/g feces.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We aimed to investigate awareness of colorectal cancer (CRC) lifestyle risk factors, willingness to participate in CRC screening, and preferences concerning channels for information on CRC prevention in the general population, including the target age of the upcoming Norwegian national CRC screening program. The present study was a cross-sectional online survey of adults aged 39 to 55 years registered as Kantar Web Panel respondents in Norway. The survey included demographic characteristics, multiple choice knowledge questions of lifestyle risk factors for CRC, attitudes towards CRC screening, and preferred channels for receiving information on CRC prevention.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Norway has experienced an unexplained, steep increase in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in the last half-century, with large differences across its counties. We aimed to determine whether geographical distribution of lifestyle-related CRC risk factors can explain these geographical differences in CRC incidence in Norwegian women.

Methods: We followed a nationally representative cohort of 96,898 women with self-reported information on lifestyle-related CRC risk factors at baseline and at follow-up 6-8 years later in the Norwegian Women and Cancer Study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Cancer screening provides an opportunity to increase awareness of cancer-preventive lifestyle behaviors such as nonsmoking, physical activity, low alcohol consumption, and a healthy diet. We tested the effect of standardized, individually tailored written feedback (TF), and a standard leaflet (SL) on 1-year lifestyle behaviors in a colorectal cancer screening setting.

Methods: A total of 3,642 men and women aged 50-74 years invited to sigmoidoscopy screening were randomly assigned to: (i) TF; (ii) SL for cancer-preventive lifestyle behaviors; or (iii) control.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF