Medically reviewed by Ayanna Lewis, M.D.
Getting screened is one of the simplest ways to decrease your threat of colon most cancers, a illness that impacts 1 in 25 girls and is the second-leading trigger of most cancers dying in girls below 50.
The excellent news — significantly for many who actually dread the thought of a colonoscopy — is that there are lots of strategies of screening for colon most cancers, and a few of them might be finished from the consolation of your individual residence. However with all of the testing choices accessible, how are you aware which one to decide on?
Understanding the several types of colon most cancers screening might assist you determine which one is finest for you.
Why is colon most cancers screening so essential?
Colon most cancers usually takes about 10 years to develop. For most individuals, it begins when a gene mutation impacts one of many cells that line your colon. This mutated cell divides and grows, forming a clump of cells referred to as a polyp.
Whereas many polyps are benign (non-cancerous), some might ultimately flip into most cancers. Screening helps to search out polyps earlier than they’ve an opportunity to turn into cancerous.
It could actually additionally spot most cancers that has already began within the early levels, when it’s simpler to deal with. The 5-year survival charge of individuals with early stage colorectal most cancers is round 90% however drops to round 13% if the most cancers has unfold to different components of the physique.
The present suggestion is that folks with a median threat of colon most cancers begin screening at age 45.
Are some teams at larger threat?
In keeping with the American Most cancers Society, Black folks in america are 20% extra more likely to get colorectal most cancers — and 40% extra more likely to die from it — than different racial teams. Genetic variations, way of life elements and environmental elements account for a few of the disparity, however different causes embody lack of entry to healthcare and the dearth of capability to pay for healthcare.
Consultants are working to assist shut this hole, organizing community-based efforts, such because the Colorectal Most cancers Screening Intervention Program (CCSIP) to lift consciousness and make screening extra accessible.
What’s a colonoscopy, anyway?
A colonoscopy is an outpatient process the place a health care provider makes use of a tiny video digicam connected to a protracted, versatile tube to test the colon for most cancers, in addition to polyps and different purple flags, reminiscent of irritated tissue.
The tube is inserted into the rectum whereas the affected person is sedated, and there’s no ache throughout or after the process.
A significant good thing about the colonoscopy is that medical doctors don’t simply search for probably problematic polyps — they will additionally take away them. And in case your outcomes are regular, you gained’t want one other colonoscopy for 10 years. Because of this colonoscopy is taken into account the “gold customary” for colon most cancers detection.
A colonoscopy comes with the identical small dangers (reminiscent of bleeding and an infection) as any medical process, however the advantages outweigh the potential hurt for many sufferers.
What are the opposite screening choices for colon most cancers?
There are just a few completely different screening choices that contain utilizing an at-home check package that search for indicators of most cancers.
- The guaiac-based fecal occult blood check (gFOBT) makes use of a chemical referred to as guaiac to search out blood within the stool. You get a check package out of your physician and use it at residence to gather a pattern that’s examined in a lab. This check is finished yearly.
- The fecal immunochemical check (FIT) makes use of antibodies as an alternative of guaiac to detect blood within the stool, however in any other case it’s the identical because the gFOBT.
- The FIT-DNA check, reminiscent of Cologuard, (often known as the stool DNA check) is the FIT plus one other check that checks for modified DNA within the stool. For this check, a complete bowel motion is collected at residence and despatched to a lab. It’s finished at the very least each three years.
Blood-based assessments for colon most cancers, reminiscent of Defend, are newer choices that can be utilized by folks of common threat.
Another choice is a versatile sigmoidoscopy, which is basically a restricted colonoscopy that solely checks the rectum and decrease third of the colon for polyps or most cancers. It’s finished each 5 years.
A process referred to as a computed tomography (CT) colonoscopy (or digital colonoscopy) makes use of a CT scan to take footage of the colon, making it much less invasive than the normal colonoscopy. It’s finished each 5 years.
It’s essential to notice that if any of those screenings come again optimistic or irregular, you’ll want a standard colonoscopy.
However for individuals who’d simply as quickly keep away from a colonoscopy — or are having a tough time getting an appointment due to a backlog — these screenings are a lot higher than nothing.
Which colon most cancers screening choice is finest?
Very similar to train, the “finest” colon most cancers screening is the one you’ll really do. You’ll have to take your private well being and insurance coverage scenario into consideration, so it’s a good suggestion to speak by way of your choices with a healthcare supplier.
If value is a priority, the Colorectal Most cancers Alliance and Colonoscopy Help may help you discover free or low-cost screenings close to you.
This academic useful resource was created with help from Daiichi Sankyo.
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