Colon cancer is one of the 2nd leading causes of cancer-related deaths in men and women in the United States. Sadly, around 52,980 individuals will lose their lives to colon cancer in 2021. But we can reduce the deaths from this disease by spreading awareness.

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month. And we’re going to use this opportunity to highlight the importance of colon cancer screening. Thankfully, colon cancer is often preventable if you follow the recommended screening guidelines.

This article will discuss when you should begin colon cancer screening based on known risk factors. We’ll also discuss your screening options and outline the differences between a Cologuard (at-home test) and a colonoscopy. Lastly, we’ll describe colon cancer symptoms that you should be aware of. Keep reading to learn more about how you can protect your bowel health.

Colon Cancer Screening Guidelines

Colon cancer screening is crucial to reduce your risk of colon cancer. While colon cancer screening can seem like an inconvenience, it’s a necessary process to protect your health and wellbeing.

Certain risk factors determine when you should begin screening for colon cancer. The American Cancer Society’s colon cancer screening guidelines recommend an initial screening test at age 45 for individuals at average risk of colon cancer.

You are at average risk for colon cancer if you don’t have any of the following risk factors:

  • Personal history of colon cancer or polyps
  • Family history of colon cancer
  • Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
    • Ulcerative colitis
    • Crohn’s disease
  • Hereditary colon cancer syndrome
    • Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
    • Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer)
  • Personal history of radiation to the abdomen or pelvic area

If you have any of the risk factors listed above, you may need to begin screening earlier than age 45. This is because you’re at a higher risk of developing colon cancer. If you fall within this category, you should contact your doctor to determine when you should begin screening.

Colon Cancer Screening Tests

There are multiple colon cancer screening tests, but the most popular options are colonoscopy and an at-home test called Cologuard. We’ll explore each of these tests in detail below.

Cologuard

Cologuard is a home-based colon cancer screening test that is performed at the convenience of your home. A Cologuard test is available for individuals age 45+ who are at average risk of colon cancer. This test screens for colon cancer by detecting blood and changes in DNA in your stool.

A Cologuard test can detect both precancerous and cancerous cells in your colon. However, this test cannot confirm or deny the presence of cancer. A colonoscopy can only verify your test results.

Cologuard is 92% effective in detecting colon cancer. But one of the risks for this test is that it can trigger false alarms. During a clinical study for Cologuard, 13% of people who did not have cancer received a positive test result.

If you receive a positive Cologuard test, you must receive a diagnostic colonoscopy to confirm your results. Unfortunately, your insurance won’t completely cover the cost of a diagnostic colonoscopy. This means that you may end up using more of your time and money than if you had initially received a screening colonoscopy.

Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is the most frequently used colon cancer screening test in the United States. And for good reason. A colonoscopy is the only test that can both detect and remove colon polyps in the same exam. This is why it is considered the “gold standard” exam for colon cancer screening.

Your doctor performs a colonoscopy by inserting a long flexible tube with a light and camera into your rectum. This allows for the visualization of the inside of your entire colon. During a colonoscopy, your doctor can detect, biopsy, and remove colon polyps. If you have a precancerous polyp, your doctor can remove it before it turns into cancer. For these reasons, we recommend a screening colonoscopy over a Cologuard test.

A colonoscopy may sound scary, but the procedure is painless. Your doctor administers anesthesia before the procedure, so you don’t feel anything.

A colonoscopy involves more preparation than a Cologuard test. You must follow a strict bowel prep before your procedure to clean out your colon. This preparation gets a bad rap, but it’s often much easier than expected. A good bowel prep reduces the time of the procedure and improves the detection rates of polyps and cancer.

Because a colonoscopy is an invasive procedure, it poses some risks, including:

  • Perforation
  • Bleeding
  • Reaction to anesthesia

These risks are minimal and occur less than .08% of the time. Overall, a colonoscopy is a relatively safe procedure.

Colon Cancer Symptoms

Unfortunately, colon cancer symptoms often don’t appear until the later stages of the disease. This is why colon cancer screening is essential — it can detect cancerous lesions before you even know about them.

Colon cancer symptoms may include:

If you have any of the above symptoms, it doesn’t mean you have colon cancer. Many digestive conditions share the same symptoms as colon cancer. If you experience a change in bowel habits, you should see a gastroenterologist to find your symptoms’ root cause.

Colon Cancer Screening in Lubbock, TX

We highly encourage anyone age 45+ to receive colon cancer screening to reduce their risk of colon cancer. A colonoscopy is the gold standard for colon cancer screening. But if you’re not sure that colonoscopy is the best screening exam for you, a Cologuard test can be an effective alternative.

Colon cancer is very treatable when caught in early localized stages. So make sure to follow the recommended colon cancer screening guidelines. It may save your life.

If you want to discuss your colon cancer screening options, you can call our office at 806-696-4440 or schedule an appointment online.