Colon Cancer

Have you heard your doctor at MFC recommend a colonoscopy or colorectal cancer screening? Colon cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death in the US, and it is entirely preventable. Colon cancer screening is recommended by the US Prevention Services Task Force starting at age 45 for all adults in the United States. Precancerous growths in the colon, called polyps, can be identified and cut out before they progress and grow to a full cancer.

Have you considered what your options for screening are? Here we will dive into the recommended screening methods and compare them:

1. Colonoscopy (recommended every 10 years if normal)

a. This is the gold standard of screening, the best test there is!

b. This involves a procedure done at the hospital or at an outpatient surgery center

c. Preparation includes a mixture of fluids designed to flush out the colon and allow for a clear view of the walls of the colon

d. Patients will be put under general anesthesia, and the doctor will use a camera probe to directly examine the length of the colon and cut out any polyps, if any

e. Consideration will need to be made for transportation home post-op, but eating regimen can usually resume to normal after the procedure

f. Follow-up depending on exam findings can be shorter than 10 years or 10 years until the next exam

2. Stool-based Tests

a. This category includes the FIT test and Cologuard

b. The FIT Test is done once a year and measures for blood in the stool sample, an indication of possible colon cancer, but is not diagnostic

c. A positive FIT test requires further testing

d. Cologuard is done once every 3 years

e. The Cologuard test also measures for blood in the stool sample and also analyzes for DNA changes shed by abnormal cells

f. These tests require minimal preparation and can be done at MFC or at your home

3. Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

a. This is a less invasive procedure done with short bowel prep at the office and usually requires no sedation

b. A doctor will use a camera probe to examine the walls of the colon, much like a colonoscopy

c. This test will only measure about 1/3 of the colon. If polyps are found, they may be cut out and a full colonoscopy may be required

d. A normal result can be followed up in 5 years

4. CT Colonography

a. This involves a short flush of the bowel

b. This procedure is non-invasive and requires no anesthesia

c. Doctors will use CT scans and imaging to examine the colon

d. Negative results can be followed up in 5 years

e. Positive results will need a colonoscopy to address the polyps or cancer if detected

Colon cancer screening is best done before symptoms appear. Colonoscopies remain the gold standard as it can prevent and treat. Other tests can lead to false negatives or positives, but the best test overall is the one you do! Doctors are best able to monitor your colon and address any polyps before they lead to colon cancer. Staying on top of recommended screenings. Colon cancers affect everyone in the US. Talk to your provider at Montgomery Family Care about colon cancer screening!