According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cancer in men and women in the United States — and it can be prevented. Finding colon cancer early increases the odds of survival and improves treatment outcomes.
A colonoscopy has long been the traditional, thorough way of finding or ruling out colon cancer. Still, it does require bowel preparation and is invasive. The newer option is an at-home stool test that requires only a stool sample and avoids the invasiveness of a colonoscopy.
If you're due for a colon cancer screening or have bothersome symptoms, the Gateway Gastroenterology team is here to help. Our specialists offer colonoscopies and other tests based on your family history and symptoms.
A colonoscopy is a colon cancer screening procedure that uses a scope with a camera and light to view the rectum and large intestine. For comfort, most people are anesthetized during the procedure.
Before a colonoscopy, you must completely clean out your bowel using a prep solution. It usually contains a laxative that you drink a day or two before the procedure. You’ll also take stool softeners and be limited to a liquid diet for a period.
The large intestine must be empty for us to evaluate it for inflammatory conditions, polyps, and other signs of cancer.
The procedure is quick, usually taking only about 10 to 15 minutes. During the procedure, we take pictures of the inside of the large intestine and rectum to show you afterward.
During the colonoscopy, we can remove polyps that could turn into cancer. This is why colonoscopy is considered the gold standard for colon cancer screening- it is actually cancer prevention. After the procedure, you can go home and eat a regular diet as tolerated. We have the results from pathology within a week. .
A less invasive option for colon cancer screening is a take-home stool test. The test looks for cellular DNA changes that could indicate precancerous conditions or colon cancer.
A major benefit of the stool test is that you can do it in the convenience of your own home. There’s zero prep involved, and you can go about your normal activities before and after the stool collection.
However, the stool test has some downsides. For instance, you may get a false-positive result that still leads to a colonoscopy. It's also not as detailed as a colonoscopy, and a negative result could miss colon cancer.
If we do find an abnormality in the stool test, you may need additional testing, including a colonoscopy, to rule out colon cancer.
Choosing between a stool test and a colonoscopy is a tough decision, but one we help you make. The determining factor is your risk for colon cancer.
People at an average risk for colon cancer with no family history can usually start with a stool test, especially if they're hesitant about having a colonoscopy. However, we should repeat the test at least every three years unless something else comes up.
Those at high risk for colon cancer, including those with a personal history of colon polyps, family history of colon cancer, or inflammatory bowel conditions, should undergo a colonoscopy. It’s the best and most efficient option to find polyps, remove them, and prevent colon cancer.
A colonoscopy is necessary every 10 years at a minimum, unless you’ve previously had colon cancer or have other conditions that require more frequent monitoring.
One thing to consider is that if you have the stool test and the results come back positive or inconclusive, you will need a colonoscopy as a follow-up.
To learn more about our colon cancer screenings, call or message us today to schedule an appointment. We have offices in St. Louis, Chesterfield, Ballwin, and Des Peres, Missouri.