Colon cancer detection in West Palm Beach

How do you get tested for colon cancer?

Did you know that the death rate from colorectal cancer has been dropping for the past few decades? This is in big part due to screening being more common, as doctors can find and remove polyps before they develop into cancer. Therefore, it’s essential to get colon cancer detection in West Palm Beach regularly.

The following tests are not only used for colon cancer detection, but also to discover polyps or other abnormalities. They can be performed even when a person does not have symptoms associated with colon cancer.

• A fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
• A fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
• A stool DNA
• A colonoscopy
• A sigmoidoscopy
• A virtual or CT colonoscopy
• A double contrast barium enema (DCBE)

 

None of these tests is equal to the other. There may be some that adjust better to your case, so you should talk to a colorectal doctor before settling on a test for colon cancer detection in West Palm Beach.

FOBT, FIT and stool DNAs are all similar in the fact that they aren’t invasive, examining samples of your stools instead. This means there is no need to clean the colon. For FIT and stool DNAs you need no prep at all, while for FOBT you must avoid meat, iron supplements and certain medicines, as they could generate a false positive.

As colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, CT colonoscopy and DCBE are all visual tests, you must clean out your bowel for the doctor to be able to see the colon and any abnormalities in it. For that reason, if you take any of these tests you’ll need a full bowel prep.

Full bowel prep consists of two stages. First, you will have to undergo a clear liquid diet for 1-3 days before the procedure. You may also have to suspend some medications. Then, you’ll have to empty the colon completely, a process for which you’ll be prescribed laxatives.

The stages of colon cancer are:

• Stage 0: The cancer has not grown beyond the inner layer of the colon and is generally easy to treat.

• Stage 1: The cancer has reached the following layer of tissue, but not the lymph nodes or any other organs.

• Stage 2: The cancer has extended to the outer layers, but it is still contained within the colon.

• Stage 3: The cancer has reached beyond the outer layers of the colon, spreading to one to three lymph nodes.

• Stage 4: The cancer has grown to other tissues outside the wall of the colon, and starts to reach distant parts of the body.

Depending on the stage you’re in, your doctor will recommend different types of treatment. In stages 0 and 1, colorectal cancer is easy to cure, which is why regular screening is highly recommended. Stages 2, 3 and 4 are harder to treat.

To catch colorectal cancer in its early stages, colon cancer detection in West Palm Beach is a must. Having a prudent screening plan will help you prevent its occurrence by detecting and removing before it causes too much harm.

At the Institute of Health & Wellness, we care about every single patient. We will provide personalized treatment for colon cancer and other colorectal conditions according to your specific needs and circumstances.

Contact the Institute of Health & Wellness for more information on colon cancer detection in West Palm Beach.

Phone: 772-539-9556
Address: 218 SW Atlanta Ave, Stuart, Florida 34994