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- Colon cancer screening: Weighing the options
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Colon cancer screening: Weighing the options
Colon cancer screening can be an important part of routine health care. If you're not sure which colon cancer screening test is best for you, ask yourself these questions.
By Mayo Clinic staffIf your doctor has recommended colon cancer screening, you might be able to choose from various colon cancer screening tests. If you're reluctant to make a decision, remember that any discomfort or embarrassment from colon cancer screening is temporary — and detecting problems early could save your life. To help choose the colon cancer screening test that's best for you, consider the following questions.
What preparation is involved?
Preparing for colon cancer screening can be uncomfortable or inconvenient, but it's necessary for the test to be effective. As part of your decision, consider your willingness or ability to follow the preparation instructions for specific colon cancer screening tests. This may — to varying degrees — include avoiding solid food the day before the exam, adjusting your medications, and using laxatives or enemas to empty your colon.
How convenient is the test?
In addition to test preparation, consider:
- How long the test will take
- How often you need to repeat the test
- Whether you'll need sedation
- The possible need for follow-up testing to investigate a false-positive finding or to remove tissue
What about cost and insurance issues?
Find out how much each colon cancer screening test costs, as well as which tests your insurance company covers. Consider whether you're willing to pay out-of-pocket if necessary.
What is your attitude toward screening tests?
The more thorough the colon cancer screening test, the more likely it is to detect any cancer or precancerous polyps. Conversely, a more thorough test might also mean more inconvenient or uncomfortable preparation, a slightly higher risk of serious complications, or both. Think about your approach to screening tests and what's most important to you. Will you feel best if you know you've chosen the most thorough screening test possible? Will you worry or doubt the results if you choose a less thorough test? How concerned are you about convenience, preparation or the possibility of serious complications?
Next page(1 of 2)
- Colorectal cancer screening. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/colorectal-screening. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
- Colorectal cancer screening. Bloomington, Minn.: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. http://www.icsi.org/guidelines_and_more/gl_os_prot/preventive_health_maintenance/colorectal_cancer_screening/colorectal_cancer_screening_6.html. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
- Virtual colonoscopy. National Cancer Institute. http://imaging.cancer.gov/patientsandproviders/cancerimaging/virtualcolonoscopy. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
- Virtual colonoscopy. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/virtualcolonoscopy. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/sigmoidoscopy/index.aspx. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
- Fletcher RH. Screening for colorectal cancer: Strategies in patients at average risk. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
- Colonoscopy. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/colonoscopy/index.aspx. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
- Kruskal JB. Computed tomographic colonography. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
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