Simple, Affordable Colon Cancer Tests Leave You with Options

SIMPLE, AFFORDABLE COLON CANCER TESTS LEAVE YOU WITH OPTIONS

American Cancer Society reminds adults 50 or older that colon cancer can be prevented.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and the American Cancer Society emphasizes that one of the most important steps you can take if you’re 50 or older is to get tested for the disease.

Colorectal cancer (also called colon cancer) is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. when men and women are combined. It’s also one of only a few cancers that can be prevented through screening. Further, it can often be successfully treated if found early. The 5-year survival rate is around 90% for colorectal cancers detected in their earliest stage.

If you’re age 50 or older, talk to your health care provider about getting tested – even if no one in your family has had colon cancer. You might need to start colon cancer screening earlier if a parent, sibling, or child has ever had colon cancer or polyps. There is also more than one type of test for colon cancer, so ask about the different ways you can be screened, including simple take-home options.

“Being Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, it’s a good time to talk with your doctor about getting tested,” said Dr. Lawrence Tierney, gastroenterologist and Society Board member. “It’s important to remember there are simple and affordable options.”

Preventing colon cancer or finding it early doesn’t have to cost a lot. Most health insurance plans cover lifesaving preventive tests like those for colon cancer. Tests for colon cancer include:

• Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) and the fecal immunochemical test (FIT): Samples of stool are checked for blood, which might be a sign of a polyp or cancer.
• Stool DNA test (sDNA): A stool sample is checked for certain abnormal sections of DNA that come from cancer or polyp cells.
• Sigmoidoscopy: A flexible, lighted tube is put into the rectum and lower colon to look for polyps and cancer.
• Colonoscopy: A longer, flexible tube is used to look at the entire colon and rectum; polyps can be removed.
• Double-contrast barium enema: An x-ray test of the colon and rectum.
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy): A type of CT scan of the colon and rectum.

“There are several different types of screening tests available,” Tierney added. “The fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and fecal immunochemical test (FIT) both test for signs of cancer in your stool. During a colonoscopy, polyps can be removed before they may become cancer. People should talk with their doctor about the option that’s best for them, as well as any concerns about screening. Ultimately, the best test is the one you get.”

For more information about colon cancer, visit cancer.org/colon or call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 2 million volunteers saving lives in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society’s efforts have contributed to a 25 percent decline in the cancer death rate in the U.S. since 1991, driven by less smoking, better treatments, and earlier detection. We’re finding cures as the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings and more. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.