Colon Cancer Screening Tests

Diagnosing Colon Cancer  

Colon cancer screening tests are designed to detect colon cancer at the earliest possible stage. Tests for detecting symptoms of colon cancer are important because colon cancer symptoms generally don't become apparent until the disease has progressed to a very dangerous stage. So it's important for everyone to have colon cancer screening tests to spot colon cancer before symptoms appear.

Current thinking among medical professionals states that men and women over 50 who have average colon cancer risks should talk to their doctor about the following colon cancer screening tests:

• a flexible sigmoidoscopy should be done every 5 years
• a colonoscopy should be done every 10 years
• double contrast barium enema every 5 years
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years.

These tests are designed to find symptoms of both cancer and polyps (see picture to the right), which may be precursors of cancer.

There are other screening tests which are designed mainly to detect colon cancer that has already begun. These include

• fecal occult blood test (FOBT) every year,
• fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year,
• stool DNA test (sDNA), interval uncertain.

Once again, these screening tests are recommended for anyone with an average risk. Those who should talk to their doctor about screening for symptoms of colon cancer earlier or more often include:

• anyone with a personal history of colon cancer or adenomatous polyps,
• anyone who has had a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (these include Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis),
• those who have had a number of others in their family who have had colon cancer.

Colon cancer is known as one of those "silent killer" diseases because there are no early warning symptoms. That's why those in high risk groups should have tests for detecting symptoms of colon cancer as soon as possible.