What Can I Expect From Colon Cancer Screening?
Colon Cancer is one of those diseases that can be present in your body without showing symptoms for a very long time. If there has been any record of cancer in your family or you are experiencing any form of abnormalities in your daily bowel movements, it is important to get yourself screened in order to prevent the cancer from spreading. Colon Cancer Screenings are very helpful in detecting the presence of cancer before they grow too large to give any symptoms. However, if the cancer is detected at its earliest stages, it is more likely to be cured faster and more efficiently than at any other time. All screening methods are not appropriate for you; therefore you should consult your doctor before going in for any of the screening tests. There are basically four main methods for screening for colon cancer. A digital rectal exam is a physical exam in which the doctor inserts a gloved finger in the rectum to check for any form of abnormalities or growths. The exam is relatively simple and not very painful. However, it is not beneficial by itself as it finds less than 10% of cancerous growths. It is generally used in combination with other screening methods. The Fecal Occult Blood test is another screening method that is more reliable. The stool sample is used to check for traces of blood that may or may not be invisible to the naked eye. The test is simple and can be done in the convenience of your own home. The analysis is done at the lab where the sample must be sent. If the test results show any blood, then additional tests will be done to find polyps or tumors that are causing the bleeding. Before conducting the test, you need to prepare yourself. You must follow the diet the doctor asks you to. This is because certain foods you eat can cause the test results to turn positive even though there might be no blood in your stools. Foods like red meat especially; raw vegetables, iron supplements and aspirin can show blood in your stool. It is best not to eat these for at least two days before the test. A flexible sigmoidoscopy is done to view the lower end of the rectum from the inside. During the screening test, a thin flexible tube with a tiny camera attached to its end, is entered into the rectum. The camera shows the inside of the rectum by which the doctor can look for any growths or abnormalities. This screening method has its disadvantage as it only refers to the lower third of the rectum and does not view the entire colon. Depending on your condition, some doctors might suggest a colonoscopy for you. It is exactly like a sigmoidoscopy, but the only difference is that a colonoscopy screens the entire length of the colon. A sedative and pain medicine will be given to reduce discomfort. The test is usually not very painful. Sometimes, doctors prefer to do a Double-Contrast Barium Enema test. Your rectum is injected with a fluid which causes the colon to show up in an x-ray. The x-ray is then viewed to search for any signs of cancer in the colon. All these screening methods have their advantages and disadvantages. It is best to follow a doctor’s instruction because the screening method depends on how the severe the cancer is predicted to be. |
