March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

March 5, 2019

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women combined. We want to take this month to bring awareness to colorectal cancer and routine screenings that can prevent this type of cancer. This year alone, over 50,000 people will die from colorectal cancer, and an estimated 60% could have been prevented with screenings.

Here is some information from the Fight Colorectal Cancer Organization on the types of screenings. Our physicians recommend a Colonoscopy as the preferred choice of screening. A colonoscopy is the only screening test that examines your entire colon and can remove polyps if seen. Our physicians would love the opportunity to further discuss these screening options with you.

COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING TESTS

Test Name	Finds Polyps?	Finds Cancer?	Requires Prep to Clean Colon?	Requires Handling Stool?	Polyps Removed During Test?	Abnormal Areas Biopsied?	Entire Colon Viewed?	Other
Tests approved by the USPSTF and guaranteed covered by insurers
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Can be done alone every 5 years or in combination with FIT or gFOBT
Colonoscopy	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
HemeSensa Fecal Occult Blood Test (gFOBT)	Not Generally	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	N/A	Requires follow-up colonoscopy if positive
CT Colonography (virtual colonoscopy)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Involves pumping air into colon to inflate
Stool DNA Test (Cologuard)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Also determines genetic mutations that can indicate cancer
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	N/A	Requires follow-up colonoscopy if positive
Tests not approved by the USPSTF so may not be covered by insurers
PillCam COLON	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	N/A	Approved for use in patients following an incomplete colonoscopy or who cannot receive a colonoscopy
Blood-based Septin9 methylated DNA test (Epi proColon)	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	N/A	A blood test that can detect colorectal cancer. Approved for patients over 50 who avoid or are unable to undergo colonoscopy, FIT or gFOBT testing.

For more information, continue reading on the following link:

https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/prevent/screening-options/

We are here to help and only a phone call away, 334-836-1212.