Colon Cancer Screening Guidelines 2022 – Where to Get Test Kit

The number of people who have colon cancer screenings every year is on the rise, thanks to the increased awareness about the disease. A recent study by UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of OptumCare, shows that about half of all physicians spend only a few minutes with their patients discussing colon cancer screening options. A FIT test, which requires a sample of stool, can detect the early stages of colon cancer when treatment can be more effective.

Some screenings may require anesthesia or sedation. Your doctor will work with you to determine the level of sedation or anesthesia that is best for you. Others may require a bowel cleanse, which can be painful. The bowel cleanse is generally required several hours prior to the screening. You should have plenty of water and a good diet for the first few days before the test.

Colon cancer screenings are important because they can detect the presence of polyps in the colon before they develop into cancer. While the chances of developing colorectal cancer are low, screenings may prevent the disease from progressing to an advanced stage. Luckily, if caught early, colon cancer is completely curable.

Colorectal cancer screenings should be done at least every three years, starting at age 45. In certain high-risk groups, screenings should begin even earlier. Increasing colorectal cancer screenings could prevent millions of deaths from this disease. Currently, the disease is the third leading cause of death among men and women in the United States. However, the rates of colorectal cancer have decreased in recent years among people 65 years and older.

Colon cancer screenings have been shown to improve the quality of life for cancer patients, especially in minority groups. According to the CDC, about 70 percent of Americans are screened for colorectal cancer annually, while one-fifth of people aged 65 and older had not received screening as recommended. The CDC estimates that this may be due to a lack of insurance coverage. In addition to the FIT, there are several other screening tests that can be used to detect colon cancer.

Cologuard, a stool test that identifies altered DNA in stool, is a screening tool that is approved by Medicare and recommended by the American Cancer Society. If the FIT test shows a positive result, further evaluation is required, which includes a diagnostic colonoscopy. But all of these screening options have the potential to give false-positive results, so it is important to talk with your doctor about all your options.

A colonoscopy is the most common type of colon cancer screening, and it uses a special camera to view the colon and rectum. This test can detect tumors and polyps, but it is also helpful to diagnose certain gastrointestinal conditions, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

The American Cancer Society recommends colon cancer screenings for people 45 years and older. However, some risk factors indicate that colon cancer screenings can be performed earlier than that. This study also found that sedentary lifestyles, antibiotic use in childhood, and food additives may increase the risk of colorectal cancer in younger people.

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