Test of colon cancer in West Palm Beach

Test for colon cancer without colonoscopy

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death related to cancer in the United States. This makes getting a test for colon cancer in West Palm Beach even more imperative.

Doctors usually recommend colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer. This is because colonoscopy is highly efficient, especially in the early stages of cancer, and allows to remove any polyps found in the same procedure.

Still, around one third of adults in the appropriate age to get a colonoscopy don’t receive it. Some of the causes for not getting a colonoscopy are:

• Special diet and bowel cleaning
• Discomfort
• Downtime
• Cost

As getting colorectal cancer detected early is fundamental to treating it successfully, several alternatives have arisen to test for colon cancer in West Palm Beach without the need for colonoscopy.

These options can be stool-based, in which you take some samples to be evaluated, or done with X-rays. Requirements, frequency and price vary according to the test, but they all are less invasive than colonoscopy and have no downtime associated.

Stool-based tests consist of Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) and stool DNA. These tests are on the simpler side of the spectrum: they are cheaper (FIT tests cost around $20), require no preparation and you can even take them yourself.

On the other hand, they don’t get to examine the colon, so they won’t detect cancer as early as a colonoscopy would. This means that they must be taken every one or three years, depending on the type of test chosen.

Visual tests examine the colon by taking images via X-rays. These are double-contrast barium enema, in which barium and air are pumped into the colon, and CT colonoscopy, where air is pumped into the colon for the tomography.

These options are similar to colonoscopy in preparation, requiring the same diet and cleaning of the bowel. However, they are more economical, less invasive, and don’t have any downtime.

When you choose to get a stool-based test, you will have to purchase the test that your doctor assigns you and take the amount of deposition samples that the test indicates. Then you’ll have to send them to the doctor or to a lab for results. If you screen positive, you’ll need a colonoscopy to confirm the diagnosis and remove possible polyps.

If you choose a visual or X-ray test, you’ll have to prepare just like you would for a colonoscopy. In the hospital, they will insert a small tube in your colon to pump in air (for CT colonoscopy) or barium and air (for barium enema). If the test detects a polyp, you need to get a colonoscopy to remove it.

If you can’t afford the cost or the downtime of colonoscopy, or if you don’t want to go through the preparation for this procedure, talk to your colorectal surgeon. Your physician will examine factors such as age, health problems and family history to determine which method will work best for you.

Contact the Institute of Health & Wellness for more information on a test for colon cancer in West Palm Beach. Request an appointment by phone at 772-539-9556