The Screening or Tests of Colon Cancer
Regular screening that can find Polyps prior to cancer can often prevent colorectal cancer. Talk to your doctor about starting the colon cancer screening on the basis of your age and family history. Persons with an average risk should start screening at 50 years of age. However, in view of the increasing incidence of colorectal cancer in younger people, the American Cancer Society recommended the beginning of the colonoscopy screening at 45.
Since colorectal cancer does not usually lead symptoms unless the disease reaches in an advanced stage, this is important that the people talk to their physician about the advantages and disadvantages of each test and the frequency of each test. People who have the following risk factors for colorectal cancer should begin colorectal screening earlier and/or undergo screening more frequently:
Personal history of colorectal cancer
Family history of polyps or colorectal cancer
Personal history of hereditary colon cancer syndrome
Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) is used to detect blood from the stool using chemical guaiacs. It's done annually. For this test, your health care provider will give you a test kit. In your home you will get a little stool with a stick or brush. Return the test kit to the lab or the doctor to check for blood in the stool samples.
FIT-DNA Test(also known as the DNA test for stool) combines the FIT test with a test for the alteration of DNA in stool. For this test, the whole bowel movement is collected and sent to a laboratory where cancer cells are tested. It takes place once every 1-3 years.
In colonoscopy the doctor may examine the whole rectum and colon during sedation with a colonoscopy. In the rectum and the whole colon a flexible, light tube is inserted into Polyps or cancer. A doctor can remove polyps or other tissue during this procedure to be tested. Polyp removal may also prevent colorectal cancer.
The Computed tomography (CT or CAT) colonography is often called the virtual colonoscopy. To achieve the best results, it needs to be interpreted by a skilled radiologist. A radiologist is a physician who is specialized in medical images. CT colonographency, however, may be an alternative for people who have a risk of anesthesia who cannot have a standard colonoscopy, or who have a blockage in the colon preventing full screening of their pain.
A sigmoidscopy is used to check for polyps, cancer and other abnormalities by using a flexible, illuminated tube. This is inserted to the rectum and lower colon. For later examination, a doctor may remove polyps or other tissue. This test will not allow the doctor to check the top of the colon, the up and the transverse colon. This test enables polyps to be deleted, which can also prevent colorectal cancer but a colonoscopy to view the entire colon is recommended if polyps or cancer are found with this test.
At Digestive Disease Specialists INC. we do colon cancer screening in OKC. Visit us for any digestive health issues.
**Disclaimer: This blog content does not offer a doctor's advice and creates no relationship between any patient and care provider.
