Colon Cancer Screening
Colon cancer screening comprises a variety of tests utilized to screen an individual for the early detection of colon cancer. It can involve a simple stool test to check for bleeding, called fecal occult blood test (FOBT). At times in individuals with colon cancer, this test alone may be sufficient to raise a suspicion for the diagnosis. However, in general FOBT is not a very sensitive test and cannot be routinely relied upon to make an accurate diagnosis of colon cancer. Recently, a test called Cologuard which combines occult blood as well as genetic mutation of colonic cell in the stool has been developed as a non-invasive screening test for colon cancer.
More commonly, an endoscopic examination of the inner lining of the colon is recommended for colon cancer screening using a colonoscope. In colonoscopy, a flexible tube with CCD camera at the distal end is inserted into the anus and advanced throughout the colon, for a careful visualization of the lining of the large bowel. Most agree that colonoscopy is the gold-standard examination in colon cancer screening LA. On the other hand, sigmoidoscopy is an examination that evaluates only the distal 1/3 of the colon. Since the examination only involves a portion of the colon, it cannot be considered an ideal screening test and thus is only rarely utilized as a screening test for colon cancer.
The most important aspect of screening examination is to have it done early, before the development of symptoms. For colon cancer, this means starting a regular colonoscopy examination starting at the age of 50. If the initial examination is negative, follow-up exam may need to be only performed every 10 years thereafter. On the other hand, those individuals with a family history of colon cancer which implies about 2-3 fold higher risk, the screening Colonoscopy Los Angeles may need to start at the age of 40, with closer follow-up examinations depending on the findings during colonoscopy. In addition, those individuals with prior history of colon cancer or colon polyp should also undergo a regular surveillance examination at a shorter interval.