New Guidelines For Colon Cancer Screening

One of the leading causes of deaths due to cancer in the world today is colon or colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer happens when the cells in the colon or the rectum or both mutate into abnormal cells and divide rapidly, forming masses called tumors. At high risk of contracting this disease are middle-aged people who has a personal or a family history of colon cancer and other colonic disorders, those who live a sedentary lifestyle, those who do not eat colon-friendly foods, and those who indulge in vices like smoking and drinking.

Colon cancer is usually being diagnosed during a colon cancer screening when the doctor sees it fit to have a person examined because of symptoms associated with it, like blood in the stools, a sudden change in the bowel movement habit, mucus in and on the stools, changes in the quality of the stools, and black and tarry stools. Colon cancer screening tests are also important because they are ways to check if colon diseases are existing before a person even exhibits symptoms related to them. Early diagnosis will help prevent these diseases, especially colon cancer, from spreading and, ultimately, becoming fatal.

The different types of colon cancer screenings are the following:

1. FOBT or Fecal Occult Blood Test – checks the quality of blood in the stools.
2. Sigmoidoscopy – this examines the lower colon through the use of a sigmoidoscope, which is a lighted instrument that can detect growths in the lower colon.
3. Colonoscopy – this examines the entire colon using a lighted instrument called the colonoscope. They help detect growths in all parts of the colon.
4. Virtual Colonoscopy or Computerized Tomographic Colonography – a special X-ray equipment is used for this test. It takes pictures of the colon and the possible growths in it.
5. DCBE or Double Contrast Barium Enema – this test involves giving the patient enema with a barium solution which is introduced into the colon to help outline the colon in a series of X-rays to help detect growths.
6. DRE or Digital Rectal Exam – examines the lower part of the rectum only. This is conducted by a medical personnel by inserting a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum to feel for abnormalities. This is routinary for physical examinations.

The new colon cancer screening guidelines, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS) in collaboration with the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer and the Americal College of Radiology, are the following:

1. To be able to find both polyps and cancer:
   1. Flexible sigmoidoscopy for every 5 years
   2. Colonoscopy every 10 years
   3. Double contract barium enema every 5 years
   4. Virtual colonoscopy every 5 years
2. To be able to find cancer:
   1. Guaiac-based Fecal Occult Blood Testing every year
   2. Fecal Immonochemical test every year
   3. Stool DNA test

These colon cancer screening guidelines will really be able to help you determine what to do in cases of colon diseases. You can avail of free colon cancer screening through some hospitals. Also, your health care provider has it covered. It is advisable that you go through one screening for colon cancer from time to time just to make sure that you are healthy and, if something is detected, treatment can be done right away.