Colon cancer detection in Delray Beach

How do you get tested for colon cancer?

Colon cancer is a silent killer. Its symptoms don’t show in the early stages of the disease, and they can be confused with signs of other illnesses, but it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for men and women combined. Therefore, it is extremely important to get colon cancer detection in Delray Beach to identify it in its early stages.

There are several ways to get screened for colon cancer. All of them have different modes of operation, preparation requirements, costs and insurance coverage. You should talk to a doctor and analyze your circumstances to decide which test works better for you.

FOBT and FIT

Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) and Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) are two types of tests that find hidden blood in the stool, which is one of the symptoms of colon cancer. If the result is positive, a colonoscopy should be performed in order to confirm whether the blood is caused by colon cancer or by some other irregularity.

Currently, FIT is preferred to FOBT for colon cancer detection in Delray Beach because it is more exact, while FOBT may detect animal blood in meat and give a false positive. Both tests are taken by examining several stool samples from the patient, and should be repeated every year.

 

Stool DNA
Like fecal tests, stool DNA tests examine stool samples. However, they don’t only detect hidden blood: they also examine DNA in the stool to detect mutations in the cells that indicate cancer.

Stool DNA tests should be performed every three years. If the result is positive, the patient needs to get a colonoscopy to confirm the existence of cancer, polyps or abnormal growths.

Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a procedure where the doctor will use a long, flexible tube called colonoscope to examine the colon and remove polyps. A camera attached to the colonoscope will allow the doctor to see the colon, and a hot wire will allow them to remove any polyp or abnormal growth to be examined.

The patient needs to have a bowel preparation one to three days before the colonoscopy, and should take the whole day after the procedure to recover. Colonoscopy is regarded as the most effective screening method and, if the results are negative, can be repeated every ten years.

Sigmoidoscopy
Similar to a colonoscopy, a sigmoidoscopy consists of a flexible tube called the sigmoidoscope, complete with a camera and a hot wire to remove polyps. Unlike colonoscopy, it only examines the rectum and the lower part of the colon.

It’s recommended to take a sigmoidoscopy once every five years. If cancer is found, you’ll need a colonoscopy to examine the full length of the colon.

CT or virtual colonoscopy
In a CT colonoscopy, images of the colon are captured by taking multiple X-rays and combining them into a tomographic image. The prep for a CT colonoscopy is the same as the one for a traditional colonoscopy, as the bowel needs to be empty. Air is pumped into the colon to get a clear image.

CT colonoscopy is a good alternative to colonoscopy to patients who can’t have a regular colonoscopy due to the risk of anesthesia. It should be repeated every 5 years.

Double Contrast Barium Enema (DCBE)
DCBE is a method where a doctor takes an X-ray of the colon and the rectum. Liquid barium is inserted into the colon to provide a clear outline of the organ. Just like regular and CT colonoscopy, the bowel needs to be emptied completely.

Physicians recommend that patients take this test every five years. However, DCBE is not the preferred method, since it can’t detect precancerous polyps as well as a colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and CT colonoscopy.

Now that you know the different methods for colon cancer detection in Delray Beach, the next step is to consult a colorectal doctor who can guide you in the decision of which test to take. The answer will depend on your age, family history, medications and clinical conditions.

At the Institute of Health & Wellness, we are proud to help patients suffering from colorectal and gastrointestinal conditions, as well as health problems that affect your wellbeing. Our colorectal specialist, Dr. Deborah DeMarta, MD, is a top-notch colorectal surgeon and functional medicine specialist.

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

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