Colon Program

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common form of cancer for both men and women in the United States, affecting roughly 45 out of 1,000 people during their lifetime. It usually occurs in patients over 45 years old, but it can appear at any time. The early warning sign of colorectal cancer is polyps, which are common growths that appear in the colon. If left to grow for a long period of time, polyps may become cancerous. This is why it is important for patients with a high risk of colorectal cancer to undergo regular screenings. Medical professionals recommend patients receive colon cancer screenings between the ages of 45 and 75.

Screening Options:

• Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy is an exam of the colon using small, flexible cameras. This camera is also equipped with small instruments that can remove any polyps discovered.
  
  

• FIT: This test requires a stool sample so that physicians can examine it for blood. Cancerous polyps will bleed in very small amounts that get trapped in stool. In the early stages, this blood may not be viewable with the human eye. Unlike colonoscopies, FIT testing needs to be done every year. It is possible for FIT testing to find blood that was not caused by colon cancer. This results in false-positive results and can be a source of great stress for patients. Additionally, if FIT testing does find signs of cancer, a colonoscopy will need to be performed anyway to confirm the diagnosis.
  
  

• Cologuard: Like FIT, Cologuard requires a stool sample which is then processed to look for tiny amounts of blood but also looks for cells that slough off from cancers and polyps. This test needs to be performed every three years.