Colorectal polyps
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Excluding skin cancer, colorectal cancer is this third most common type of cancer in the United States. An estimated 106,680 new cases of colon cancer and 41,930 new cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed in 2006, according to the American Cancer Society. More than 90% of those diagnosed with this disease are over the age of 50.
Screening Comparison
There are five main colorectal cancer screening methods. At The Center for Colorectal Health, we use the fecal occult blood test (FOBT), the only non-invasive method available. It serves as an excellent initial screening due to its safe, simple and inexpensive nature. For accurate results, hemorrhoids and anal fissure must be treated and resolved prior to FOBT screening to eliminate any known causes of blood in the stool.
Digital Rectal Exam
*PRO: Inexpensive; requires no instrumentation
*CON: Unable to screen for the majority of polyps
Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)
*PRO: Non-invasive; inexpensive; convenient; safe; simple
*CON: Not specific; false positives; some polyps don’t bleed; dietary restrictions
Colonoscopy
*PRO: Gold standard sensitivity; polyps can be removed for testing
*CON: Expensive; sedation required; risk of perforation; dietary restrictions
Sigmoidoscopy
*PRO: Same pro’s as colonoscopy plus: sedation rarely required; faster procedure
*CON: Upper two thirds of colon cannot be screened; risk of perforation
Double-contrast Barium Enema (DCBE)
* PRO: No sedation required; lower cost and less recovery time than colonoscopy
*CON: Less sensitive than colonoscopy; polyps cannot be removed for testing
Two emerging methods—DNA stool testing and virtual colonoscopy—have not yet been endorsed for screening and are not covered by Medicare or most major carriers.
Source: The center for Colorectal Health -Colorectal Cancer Screening Comparison
About the Author
The Center for Colorectal Health provides medical care and information on hemorrhoid banding, anal fissure treatment and colorectal cancer screening.
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colon cancer or colorectal cancer?
I’m 20 years old,5’9 and 208lb
about 2weeks ago i had bright red blood in the stool. when i went for a quick check up and he said it was hemorrhoids. he gave me some ointment for the hemorrhoid and the bleeding stopped after that I had the lose of appetite, constipated, always have gas and wanting to burp and I felt bloated and the feeling something poking me under my belly button.
everyday i worry myself I have colon cancer because my dad had polyps before at the age of 40. what could it be. Im kind of terrified it could possibly colon cancer or any other cancer.
Jayjay – At age 20 years, chances are almost zero that you have colon cancer. At your age, bright red blood on the stool is due to hemorrhoids, and you appear to have been diagnosed and treated correctly. The other symptoms you describe are not those of a cancer. Many or most physicians believe that colon cancer begins ion polyps. For this reason, and because your father had colon cancer, I would advise you to try to visit a gastroenterologist (G-I or gastro-intestinal) physician to have a colonoscopy exam of your large intestine this year to see if there are any polyps in your colon. Thereafter, follow the advice of the G-I physician.,
Colon Cleansing, Cancer
