Non-Invasive Colon Cancer Screening

The Problem If you are over fifty years, your doctor probably told you to get a colonoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy. This entails fasting for a short while and getting a tube inserted into my rectum. Not fun! What did I do in order to be subject to this kind of torture? Is there anything else I can do to avoid this? Colorectal cancer occurs in the colon or rectum. The colon is the large intestine or large bowel, while the rectum is the passageway that connects the colon to the anus. Colorectal cancer affects men and women of all racial and ethnic groups, and is most often found in people aged 50 years or older. In the United States, it is the third most common cancer for men and women. Of cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States. If everybody aged 50 or older had regular screening tests, as many as 60% of deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented. Screening can find precancerous polyps—abnormal growths in the colon or rectum—that can be removed before turning into cancer. About nine out of every 10 people whose colorectal cancer is found early and treated are still alive five years later. http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/index.htm

The Solution

There are three types of screening that can test for colorectal cancer. Any one of these three methods can be used to test for Colorectal Cancer, but only the FOBT is non invasive (and can be done in your own home):

High-Sensitivity FOBT (Stool Test): This is the least invasive method. You receive a test kit from your doctor. At home, you use a stick or brush to obtain a small amount of stool. You return the test kit to the doctor or a lab, where the stool samples analyzed for blood. This should be performed once per year.           

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: For this test, the doctor puts a short, thin, flexible, lighted tube into your rectum. The doctor checks for polyps or cancer inside the rectum and lower third of the colon. If the FOBT is not done, this should be done every five years.

Colonoscopy: This is similar to flexible sigmoidoscopy, except the doctor uses a longer, thin, flexible, lighted tube to check for polyps or cancer inside the rectum and the entire colon. During the test, the doctor can find and remove most polyps and some cancers. If the FOBT is not done, this should be done every ten years. Colonoscopy also is used as a follow-up test if anything unusual is found during one of the other screening tests.

The Non-Invasive Option

The FOBT is quick, efficient, and convenient. The next time your doctor tries to send you for a pipe cleaning, ask about the FOBT option. Our CONSULT Gastroenterologist would be happy to interpret results and give you any further recommendations.

Get the FOBT and catch Colorectal Cancer early!

Thomas Manetti, MPH | CONSULT Project Manager

SynerMed – Innovating Healthcare

1600 Corporate Center Drive | Monterey Park, CA 91754

tel 213 406 2820 | fax 213.572.3808 | tmanetti@synermed.com

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