SCREENING = BETTER OUTCOMES
Colorectal cancer screening options
Recent innovations mean that there are now more options for colorectal cancer screening than ever before. We’re breaking them down below, but you should also talk to your health care provider to determine which screening test is right for you.
Remember: The best test for colorectal cancer is the one you do. Early Detection = Better Outcomes. Be sure to get screened on time, beginning at age 45 for those at average risk.
| Prueba | Intervalo de detección |
| VISUAL TESTS | |
|---|---|
| Colonoscopia In this procedure, a tube with a light and a camera is inserted through the rectum into the colon to look for irregularities. With this procedure, your doctor can screen for cancer and find and remove precancerous polyps (growths), making it the only colorectal cancer screening type that is preventive. Before a colonoscopy, you would need to prepare by fasting for some time and drinking bowel preparation fluids or taking oral medication to clean out your colon. You are typically sedated during the procedure. |
Cada 10 años |
| Colonoscopia virtual* Less invasive than a traditional colonoscopy, the virtual colonoscopy is a procedure where your doctor uses a CT-scan to examine the colon for abnormalities. It does require similar bowel prep to the colonoscopy, but no tubes are used and sedation is not required. |
Cada 5 años |
| Sigmoidoscopia flexible* With this procedure your doctor examines only the lower third of the colon (instead of the entirety, as with a colonoscopy). The procedure involves a tube with a camera so the doctor can view the inside of the colon. You would be required to cleanse your bowels with prep ahead of time, similar to the colonoscopy. |
Cada 5 años |
| STOOL-BASED TESTS | |
| High sensitivity guaiac based fecal occult blood test (HS gFOBT)* With this test, a stool sample is sent to a lab to detect if there are microscopic amounts of blood in the stool. After getting a kit from a health care provider, you can take the test at home and mail your sample. People who opt for this test need to modify their diet in preparation. |
Every year |
| Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)* With this test, a stool sample is sent to a lab to detect if there are microscopic amounts of blood in the stool. After getting a kit from a health care provider, you can take the test at home and mail your sample. This test doesn’t require any modifications to your diet. |
Todos los años |
| Multitarget stool DNA (mt-sDNA) test * This stool-based test detects whether there are DNA mutations present in cells in your stool. This test also includes the FIT to look for blood in the stool. You take the test at home and mail your results to the lab. |
Cada 3 años |
| Multi-target stool RNA (mt-sRNA) test* This stool-based test detects whether there are RNA mutations present in cells in your stool. This test also includes the FIT to look for blood in the stool. You take the test at home and mail your results to the lab. |
Cada 3 años |
| BLOOD-BASED TESTS | |
| Blood test* The blood-based test is recommended only for those who have declined or have not completed a visual or stool-based screening test. It requires having your blood drawn at a doctor’s office or lab. The blood sample is checked for DNA that could signal cancer. |
Cada 3 años |
| *An abnormal result should be followed up with a timely colonoscopy. | |