Colorectal carcinoma, commonly known as colorectal cancer, is one of the major causes of death in the United States. Every year, there are more than 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancers diagnosed, and the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is roughly 8 percent in men and 4 percent in women. Colorectal carcinomas can be screened using either full-structural endoscopic examinations, such as a colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, or through stool-based tests such as the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunological test (FIT).
Instructions
1. Ask your doctor for a referral for a colonoscopy referral. Colonoscopies are considered to be the "gold standard" of screening for colorectal carcinomas.
The colonoscopy will be performed by a gastroenterologist. During the test, your colon and rectum will be visualized by a camera on a flexible scope, which is inserted into your colon through the anus. If adenomatous polyps (precursors to colorectal carcinomas) are found during the procedure, they will be removed. In this way, screening for colorectal carcinomas by colonoscopy allows for not only the early detection of colorectal carcinomas but also the removal of precursors to cancer.
2. Select a stool-based test to screen for colorectal carcinomas if you feel that a colonoscopy is too painful or invasive. Ask your physician to order a test kit for you or purchase a test at a pharmacy. Stool tests are convenient and can be performed at home.
3. Follow the instructions for conducting the stool test closely. Most tests involve placing a sample of your stool on one or more cards that come with the test kit.
The older generation of stool tests such as the guaiac fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) require special restrictions on diet and medication prior to the test (for example, no red meat, no Vitamin C). Some tests require sending the cards to a laboratory, while with other stool tests the cards change color if your test is positive.
Consult your physician about the most convenient, accurate stool test for you.
4. Contact your physician as soon as possible if your stool test is positive. Don't panic.
A positive stool test does not mean that you have colorectal cancer; it only means that you are at high risk for colorectal carcinomas. It may also mean that you have colorectal adenomatous polyps, which are precursors to colorectal carcinomas. A positive stool test must be followed by a colonoscopy.
5. Screen for colorectal carcinomas regularly. The American Cancer Society recommends screening by colonoscopy every 10 years, starting at age 50, for average-risk individuals. If you chose to use a stool test, take the test annually. If you have one or more family members diagnosed with colorectal cancer, oncologists recommend that you screen for colorectal carcinomas by colonoscopy.
Tags: colorectal carcinomas, stool test, colorectal cancer, carcinomas colonoscopy, colorectal carcinomas colonoscopy, your physician, adenomatous polyps
