Now's the time!
Colorectal cancer, which can include either colon cancer or rectal cancer, is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Yet, according the American Cancer Society (ACS), about half of colon cancer deaths could be prevented with early screening. Why aren’t more people taking advantage of these tests? By and large, they’re fairly simple and painless procedures. But many colon cancer tests, such as the colonoscopy, have a bad rep for what you need to do to prepare for them. Typically it involves drinking a strong laxative beverage the day before to flush out your bowels. (Close proximity to a bathroom is an absolute must.) Painful? No. Unpleasant? Yes. Other types of tests have their pros and cons. But a day or two of discomfort is a small price to pay for a screening that can detect suspicious polyps or tumors that may be pre-cancerous or cancerous. And when it comes to cancer of any kind, treatment is often most successful when found early.
When to Start Screenings
Both
the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society
recommend that men and women be screened for colon cancer starting at
age 50. If you are at increased or high risk -- meaning you’ve had colon cancer or polyps in the past, have inflammatory bowel disease or a family history of colon cancer—you should get screened earlier. Your doctor can help you decide when to start.
Preventive Screening Options
The
colonoscopy is still considered the gold standard for detecting colon
cancer, but there are several other options worth discussing with your
doctor.
Colonoscopy
Frequency: Once every 10 years
Preparation: As with all colon-screening tests (except for the at-home variety), your doctor needs aclear view of your colon
– and that means it needs to be clean and empty. Your doctor will
provide you with detailed instructions on how to prepare. One of the
most common ways involves drinking two to four quarts of a liquid
laxative the night before and morning of the procedure. You’ll also be
asked to stop eating food and drink only clear liquids at least one day
before the test. If you take any medications, talk with your doctor
ahead of time about how to manage them prior to the procedure.
About the test: A
colonoscopy is a routine procedure that can be done at a doctor’s
office, clinic or hospital outpatient department; it usually lasts from
30 minutes to an hour. You’ll first receive a sedative through an IV or
by taking a pill. You won’t feel anything, nor are you likely to
remember anything about the procedure afterwards. To begin, your doctor
inserts a colonoscope – a thin tube with a small video camera on the end
-- through your rectum and into your colon, providing a full view of
all five feet of it. One advantage to this type of screening is that if
polyps are found, your doctor can remove them right then and there. The
polyp is then sent to a lab to check for signs of cancer. If your doctor
sees any other abnormality, such as a tumor or larger polyp, he or she
will likely take a tissue sample (biopsy) for further examination.
After the test: Because
the sedative will make you groggy, you’ll be asked to arrange for
someone to drive you home. You may also feel bloated, gassy or have
cramps for the rest of the day.
CT Colonography (Virtual Colonoscopy)
Frequency: Once every five years
Preparation: Much
like a colonoscopy, you’ll need to empty your colon by drinking a salty
liquid laxative solution the night before and morning of the screening.
Again, a bathroom is your best friend as you prepare. You’ll also be
asked to follow a clear liquid diet a day or two before the procedure.
About the test: The
“virtual” colonoscopy only takes about 10 minutes. It doesn’t require
sedation and is done in a facility with a CT scanner. (If you’ve ever
had a CT scan, you’ll be familiar with how it works.) To begin, you’ll
be positioned on the scanner table so that a small, flexible tube can be
placed into the rectum. Air is then pumped inside the tube to inflate
the colon, offering a clearer view of the area tested. The table then
slides into the scanning machine and a special computer program takes
images of the colon, generating 2-dimensional x-rays along with a
3-dimensional view. The first scan is taken while lying on your back; a
second is taken while on your stomach. The x-ray images are later
examined for polyps and cancer. While this procedure is less invasive
than a regular colonoscopy, one of the drawbacks is that if your doctor
finds any abnormalities, you’ll probably need a colonoscopy. This test
may not be covered by your insurance.
After the test: You may feel bloated or crampy.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Frequency: Once every five years
reparation: A
clear liquid diet the day before the exam may be required and you’ll
need to drink a strong laxative. An enema may also be needed to be sure
all waste is eliminated.
About the test: This
procedure only takes 10 to 20 minutes and can be done without sedation.
During a flexible sigmoidoscopy, your doctor inserts a thin, flexible,
lighted tube with a video camera on the end through the rectum and into
the lower part of the colon. The camera is connected to a display
monitor, which allows the doctor to examine the colon throughout the
procedure. Because the sigmoidoscope is only about two feet long, your
doctor is only able to see a portion of the colon. If any abnormalities
are detected, your doctor may take a tissue sample for further
examination. You’ll also need to have a colonoscopy for examination of
the rest of your colon.
After the test: You may notice a small amount of blood in your first bowel movement.
Double Contrast Barium Enema
Frequency: Once
every five years. According to the National Cancer Institute, this
screening is mostly used for people who, because of certain complication
risks, are unable to undergo a regular colonoscopy.
Preparation: As
with the other screenings, you’ll need to do a laxative prep and may
need an enema or suppository to finish it.A clear liquid diet a day or
two before the procedure is common; you may also be asked not to drink
anything after midnight.
About the test: This
procedure is a type of x-ray that takes about 30-45 minutes to
complete; it doesn’t require sedation. Barium sulfate, a chalky liquid,
is first pumped into your rectum through a small tube. Once the colon is
half-full of barium (which coats the lining of the colon, making it
easier to see any abnormalities), your doctor pumps air into your colon
to make it expand. Several x-rays are then taken of your colon and
rectum. If anything suspicious is found, you’ll need a colonoscopy for
further examination.
After the test: You may experience bloating, constipation, cramping or the need to take a bowel movement following the procedure.
Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) or Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
Frequency: Once every year
Preparation for an FOBT: Your
doctor may ask you to avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) such as Advil, Aleve or aspirin a week before testing. You may
also be asked to limit taking vitamin C and eating red meat for three
days prior.
About the FOBT: This
screening test is different from a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy because
it can be done in the privacy of your own home. It relies on sending
stool samples to your doctor’s office or a lab for testing (don’t worry,
you’ll only need to send a thin film of stool smeared onto special
cards). Detailed instructions on how to get the samples and return them
are provided in a special kit. If blood is found in the stool by way of a
chemical reaction in the lab, you’ll need a colonoscopy to determine
the cause of the bleeding.
Preparation for a FIT: Unlike the FOBT, there are no drug or dietary restrictions.
About the FIT: You’ll
receive a test kit with detailed instructions for collecting and
mailing stool samples to your doctor’s lab. If the test shows hidden
blood in your stool (in other words, you don’t see blood when you have a
bowel movement), you’ll need a colonoscopy.
Stool DNA Test
Frequency: Once every three years
Preparation: No special preparation is required.
About the test: This
screening test, which also requires stool samples, looks for abnormal
DNA that would appear in polyps or cancerous cells. You’ll again receive
a kit for collecting and delivering stool samples and a colonoscopy
will be necessary if the results show any abnormalities.
Which Test is Right for You?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to colon cancer screening. Each test has its advantages and disadvantages.
The stool-based and x-ray tests are more likely to produce more
false-positives, some are more invasive and some cause a bit more
discomfort than others. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor
about the pros and cons of each option.
Regardless
of which test you choose, early detection increases your chance for
successful treatment if cancer is found. If you’re at least 50 years old
or at increased risk for colon cancer, speak with your doctor today.
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