Good timing is everything when it comes to colon cancer screening. Colorectal cancer leads to 52,000 deaths each year, yet it’s treatable when caught early.
“Colon cancer screenings save lives,” said Kevin Post, DO, Chief Medical Officer of Avera Medical Group. “Everyone approaching their 45th birthday should understand that.”
Colonoscopy is now recommended beginning at age 45 because more people are getting diagnosed with this cancer at a younger age. During this procedure, the physician can not only spot an early stage of colon cancer, they can spot precancerous polyps and remove them on the spot, essentially preventing cancer.
Yet there are other options for colon cancer screening.
At-Home Options for Colon Screening
While colonoscopy is considered the gold standard, Avera Medical Group recommends use of at-home stool sample options for people who are unwilling to have one.
Those tests include:
- The multi-target stool DNA or FIT-DNA (known as Cologuard®). It's shown to be 92% effective at finding colon cancer, which is close but not quite as effective as colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is also better at detecting precancerous polyps.
- The fecal immunochemical test (FIT). It's 80% effective at finding cancer, yet when compared to FIT-DNA tests the FIT produces fewer false positive results.
A positive result on either test would require a colonoscopy to see if the at-home test was a false positive or a possible cancerous growth or pre-cancerous polyp that is causing the positive result.
“We know that some people who will never choose to have a colonoscopy are willing to do an at-home test,” Post said. Patients who opt for these tests do so at home without the prep time off work and sedation involved with colonoscopy.
“Medical tests of all types have pros and cons, but the bottom line is we aim for the most accurate tests possible,” said Post. “You can tailor your own decision based on your health and your history.”
Are You Up to Date on Colon Cancer Screening?
More than 35% of South Dakotans are not up to date on colon cancer screening.
“We have to do better, because the best screening for colorectal cancer is simple: it’s the one you get,” said Preston Renshaw, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Avera Health Plans.
Renshaw said some health insurance plans will cover colonoscopy costs for patients who get a positive result on a stool-sample screening, like Cologuard.
It’s important to remember that colon screening can save you from cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
“The priority is to get you in and get you screened,” he added.
