To do at-home colon cancer screening, you'll need a prescription from your doctor. You'll collect the sample at home with the prescribed kit, then mail it off to the prescribing doctor (or a lab). When the analysis is complete, your doctor will go over the results with you.
Cologuard is an at-home FIT-DNA test that can detect both blood in the stool and abnormal DNA that can come from colon polyps. It is a widely accepted, FDA-approved method of colorectal cancer screening. Cologuard is only available with a prescription.
Colonoscopy. A colonoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the entire rectum and colon while a patient is sedated. A flexible, lighted tube called a colonoscope is inserted into the rectum and the entire colon to look for polyps or cancer.
Fecal immunochemical test (FIT): This is an inexpensive, at-home, stool-based test that looks for proteins found in the blood. Blood in the stool could be a sign of colon cancer, and a positive FIT test would signal that you need to get a colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy. In this test, the rectum and entire colon are examined using a colonoscope, a flexible lighted tube with a lens for viewing and a tool for removing tissue.
A persistent change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool. Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool. Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain. A feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely.
Home testing is definitely better than no testing, but there are a few distinctions to make, adds Anne Mongiu, MD, PhD, a Yale Medicine colorectal surgeon. “The main thing I stress is that home tests are really for detecting cancer—or early cancer—or maybe a large bleeding polyp,” she says.
Regular screening, beginning at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer and finding it early. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force) recommends that adults age 45 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer. The Task Force recommends that adults age 76 to 85 talk to their doctor about screening.
Everyone's experience is different, but you can rest assured that the colonoscopy itself is painless. You will receive anesthesia so that you don't feel pain or remember the procedure. Most centers use medications that stop working quickly. That means you shouldn't feel any lingering side effects.
A traditional colonoscopy is the most widely known colorectal cancer screening procedure, but many patients are choosing a non-invasive CT (computerized tomography) Colonography instead. A CT Colonography doesn't require sedation and is just as accurate at detecting most precancerous polyps.
Many cases of colon cancer have no symptoms. If there are symptoms, the following may indicate colon cancer: Abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen.
While in many cases, there are no obvious symptoms with colon cancer, there are some that can be warning signs and should be discussed with your physician. These include: Any major change in bowel habits. Blood in the stool that is either bright red, black or tarry.
Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated is a great way to regulate digestion. People who support a water flush for colon cleansing recommend drinking six to eight glasses of lukewarm water per day. Also try eating plenty of foods high in fiber & water content.
When to get a colonoscopy: The American Cancer Society recommends people of average risk begin screening at age 45. After your initial screening, most people will not need another colonoscopy for 10 years. You and your doctor will decide the appropriate screening schedule for you.
If your colonoscopy results list a positive finding, this means your doctor spotted a polyp or other abnormality in the colon. This is very common, and not a reason to panic. Most polyps are harmless, and your doctor probably removed it during the colonoscopy. Some polyps, however, can be cancerous or precancerous.
Colon pain is pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen, often accompanied by constipation, diarrhea, or bloody stool.
Blood from higher up in the bowel doesn't look bright red. It goes dark red or black and can make your poo look like tar. This type of bleeding can be a sign of cancer higher up the bowel.
There are certain foods that can contribute to inflammation in the colon. Red meat, fried foods, refined sugar and carbohydrates, alcohol and coffee can all contribute to inflammation.