The risk for colon cancer is greater for people 45 and older and for those with a family history of the disease. The good news: the survival rate is about 90% when it’s caught early. On this page, you’ll find helpful information about risks, screening options, warning signs, and prevention tips. You can also view informative videos about colonoscopy prep and procedures. To determine if a colonoscopy or another screening test is right for you, take our questionnaire.
Or to compare the different testing options available, get the facts here.
COLON CANCER SCREENING OPTIONS
Colonoscopy remains the best colorectal cancer screening test.
It can screen, detect, treat, prevent, and cure most significant colon lesions during one exam. While the patient is under anesthesia, a physician examines the inside of the colon using a flexible tube called a colonoscope. If abnormal tissue or polyps are found, they can be removed and biopsied.
LEARN MORE ON THE COLONOSCOPY INFO PAGE
Colonoscopy is one of three common colon screening tests available. The others are FIT and Cologuard®. Have more questions about colonoscopy vs. in-home tests? Check out the colon cancer detection MYTHS VS. FACTS.
FIT (fecal immunochemical test) is an at-home screening test for colon cancer that detects hidden blood in the stool which can be an early sign of cancer. LEARN MORE
Cologuard® is a noninvasive, at-home stool test used to find DNA from abnormal cells. It’s for men and women age 45 and older who are at average risk for colon cancer. LEARN MORE
LET’S DISPEL THE COLON CANCER TESTING MYTHS.
When you compare colon cancer tests, they’re not all created equal. While at-home colon cancer detection kits offer convenience, they can’t match a colonoscopy for both detecting and preventing colon cancer. This Myth vs. Fact list compares at-home test kits with colonoscopy to highlight why colonoscopy remains the gold standard for life-saving colon cancer detection and prevention.
FACT: At-home stool tests (like Cologuard® or FIT®) detect some cancers, but they miss most precancerous polyps and may miss early cancers. Precancerous polyps can develop into cancer, which is why removing them is so important. A colonoscopy can find and remove precancerous polyps in the same appointment to prevent cancer, something no mail-in test can do.
Also, at-home tests have a high rate of false positives, so a colonoscopy is needed to confirm whether cancer is present.
FACT: A negative at-home test does not guarantee the absence of cancer or polyps. Stool tests only detect abnormalities after they start bleeding or shedding DNA. Colonoscopy provides a complete view of the colon. It can detect issues before symptoms or bleeding occur, especially in the early stages of disease when it’s most preventable.
FACT: At-home kits are quicker but must be repeated every one to three years. On the other hand, a colonoscopy is typically recommended once every 10 years for average-risk adults. Many people find the prep manageable, and the procedure itself is painless thanks to sedation.* One appointment can detect, diagnose, and treat compared to years of repeated mail-in testing.
*Not all GI practitioners use the same type of sedation.
FACT: At first glance they can be—but not always:
Many at-home tests require an annual or a repeat test every three years. In addition, any positive result triggers a colonoscopy to confirm whether cancer is present. Sometimes this includes a patient co-pay or out-of-pocket costs, depending on insurance coverage. Colonoscopy is cost-effective long-term, especially since it prevents cancer rather than just screening for it.
FACT: Colonoscopy is the only method that reliably detects and removes:
-
Large & small precancerous polyps
-
Sessile serrated polyps (more often missed by stool tests)
-
Non-bleeding or non-shedding lesions
Most polyps don’t bleed, so stool tests commonly miss them.
FACT: During a colonoscopy, patients are sedated* and closely monitored by anesthesia professionals, resulting in the most comfortable and safe procedure possible.
Colonoscopy is a safe, routine procedure performed millions of times per year. Serious complications are very rare (less than 0.2%) and the ability to prevent cancer far outweighs the minimal risks.
*Not all GI practitioners use the same type of sedation.
DETERMINE IF COLONOSCOPY OR ANOTHER SCREENING TEST IS RIGHT FOR YOU.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
COLON CANCER WARNING SIGNS AND PREVENTION TIPS
Routine colon screening is recommended for everyone age 45 and older, and those with a family history of the disease or colon polyps should begin at age 40.
|
|
Most insurance companies and Medicare will cover the cost of a screening colonoscopy but check with your insurance provider first. If your colonoscopy finds pre-cancerous polyps, it is important to notify close relatives as they are also at a higher risk of colon cancer and should schedule a colonoscopy as a precaution.
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT COLONOSCOPY?
WATCH THESE VIDEOS TO LEARN MORE.
To answer your questions and give you a better understanding of colonoscopy prep and procedure, check out these easy-to-follow, informative videos. Learn more on the Colonoscopy Prep Page.
