Colon Cancer Screening: No More Excuses, Just Do It!

What many people don’t know is that while colon cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer, it is also one of the most preventable, especially if caught early. In order to find colon cancer in the early stages, screening guidelines call for most people to begin screening at age 50. Unfortunately, only one in three Americans in this age group follow those recommendations. As a result, more than 60 percent of colon cancer cases are detected in the late stages when treatment is difficult and survival rates low. In Florida alone, more than 9,000 new people will be diagnosed with colon cancer and nearly 3,500 will die from the disease this year.

Taking a step back, it’s important to understand that most colon cancers develop slowly over time. Before cancer develops, a polyp – or non-cancerous growth – usually appears on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. The early detection and removal of these polyps—through screening—can effectively prevent colon cancer from ever forming. In addition, because most polyps and early-stage cancers do not cause symptoms, routine screenings are critical for finding cancer.

So why do so many people forgo colon cancer screenings? There are a number of reasons, including discomfort, embarrassment or even fear. Colonoscopy remains the standard for colon cancer screening because it enables physicians not only to find cancerous and precancerous lesions, but also to remove them during the same procedure. However, some of my patients are unable or unwilling to undergo colonoscopy for medical or personal reasons.

If a patient is unable to have a colonoscopy, there are alternative screening options available, such as fecal occult blood tests (FOBT) and fecal immunochemical tests (FIT). These tests are noninvasive and designed to detect blood in the stool that may be caused by a polyp or cancer. However, because there are unrelated conditions that can cause blood in the stool, and not all polyps or lesions actively bleed, these tests may not be reliable on their own for the detection of cancer or precancerous polyps.

Another option approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called Cologuard offers patients an accurate, noninvasive screening option that they can take in the privacy of their own home. What makes Cologuard different from other noninvasive colon cancer screening tests is that it can detect both blood and altered DNA from abnormal cells known to be associated with cancer and precancerous polyps that are shed into the stool as it passes through the colon.

The best part is that Cologuard doesn’t require any prep work or dietary restrictions. It is prescribed by a doctor and sent directly to the patient’s home. After depositing a sample in the collection kit, patients ship the kit back to the lab through a pre-paid mailer. If the test result is positive, the doctor will refer the patient for a diagnostic colonoscopy. If the result is negative, the patient should continue to participate in a screening program at an interval and with a method appropriate for the individual patient.

In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Cologuard was found to be a highly sensitive test in detecting colorectal cancer—in fact, it was able to detect 92 percent of cancers in average risk patients with 87 percent specificity. Cologuard is approved by the FDA and covered by Medicare and a growing number of private health insurance companies.

Currently, 30 percent of eligible adults in the state of Florida do not get screened. With so many options now available, getting screened for colon cancer is easier than ever before, so if you’re over 50, talk to your doctor about which test is right for you and check screening off your list today.