Colon Cancer Screening Tests

Many people put colon cancer screening tests at the back of their minds. They often have the misconception that it is just a waste of money since if they do have great possibility of having colon cancer, why not go directly for a diagnostic test? Colon cancer screening tests are very important in that they aid the doctor in narrowing down the cause of the signs and symptoms the person is experiencing. Another importance is that through them, colon cancer can be detected even if the person is not manifesting any sign or symptom that is related to colon cancer.

Digital Rectal Exam

This is a screening test that is heavily recommended by doctors to be done yearly. People, especially males, ought to have this in their yearly check ups once they hit 50. This is because it has been found out that colon cancer usually develops in males aged 50 and above. However, if they are in the high risk population, such as obese or have a direct relative who has colon cancer, they are recommended to have this as early as 40. Digital rectal exam, or DRE, is a procedure that takes no more than a few minutes and is done in the doctor’s clinic. The doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated index finger into the rectum and anus and inspects the surrounding area for bumps or any kind of abnormalities. If he finds one, another screening test, such as barium enema, is often recommended to see if the abnormality has anything to do with colon cancer.

Digital rectal exam is not only for colon cancer. Because of its nature, it is also a screening exam for prostate cancer.

Fecal Occult Blood Test

This colon cancer screening test involves the submission of a stool specimen. The stool sample is submitted to a diagnostic laboratory and it is examined for occult blood or “hidden” blood.

The purpose of fecal occult blood test is to check if the stool contains blood in it. This is because one of the signs and symptoms of colon cancer is having blood in the stool. There are people who have obviously bloody stools. However, there are some who pass out normal looking stools that contain components of blood such as hemoglobin. Usually, these are the ones wherein the bleeding is not as heavy as those who are passing red blood or black tarry stools.

There are two types of fecal occult blood test. One is the Guaic test wherein blood component, especially heme, is detected by using a certain reagent. The other test is by immunochemical reaction. This test is much more sophisticated in that it uses known antibodies to detect hemoglobin protein that is present in the stool if there is blood in it.

Barium Enema

There are two ways in which barium enema is done. First is the single contrast barium enema wherein the colon is filled with barium. After this, the colon then is examined thru x-ray. The second way of doing the procedure is the double contrast barium enema. Just like the single contrast, the colon is also filled with barium but this time, it is drained. Afterwards, the colon is filled with air. This allows a clearer view of the colon and any kind of abnormalities in its appearance is easily seen. Because of this advantage, the double contrast barium enema is most commonly done nowadays.

Sigmoidoscopy

This colon cancer screening test uses a flexible tube that allows the examiner to view the rectum and the lower part of the colon. The flexible tube is inserted thru the anus and moved upward to the colon. As expected, this test requires the patient to properly and thoroughly cleanse the bowels before the procedure.

Colonoscopy

Similar to sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy is a procedure that makes use of a flexible colonoscope. This tube is has a camera at its end and is connected to a monitor. Unlike sigmoidoscopy though, this procedure allows the examiner to view the entire colon and not just its lower part.

Studies have found out that with sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy, there is a great decrease of deaths related to colon cancer especially when it is regularly done at the age of 50 and above. Colon cancer screening tests have always played a vital part in the battle against colon cancer. It provides information about the cancer while it is still in the early stage. With it, many people have survived colon cancer and lived longer.

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