Colorectal Cancer Screening – Is More Options Better?

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Speaking from a patient viewpoint, yes,I can agree that some people may need more options with colorectalcancer screening. What this study is showing is that amongminorities, adherence to colorectal cancer screening is poor or notdone because they do not want to go the colonoscopy route.
I consider myself lucky that I went thecolonoscopy route 14 years ago. I did not have any family history ofcolon cancer, but I had lost both parents to cancer and was justdoing the colonoscopy on the spur of the moment. How fortunate I wasas the oncologist declared that one of the polyps removed was aboutsix months precancerous. I have had several colonoscopies since andexcept for one time have had polyps removed.
I can understand why many people resisthaving a colonoscopy as it is not something I enjoy either – it isinvasive. However, with my personal history of polyps, I willcontinue to have them as often as my doctor orders them. I do notwant to use the fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) as this means thatthe cancer already exists when the test is positive.
Not only do you have cancer when theFOBT comes back positive, if not caught early enough, the cancer maymetastasize (spread to other parts of the body). I would rather beuncomfortable for a day or two and have the colonoscopy than gothrough the operation (very invasive) of having part of my colonremoved or having chemotherapy and radiation.
For those interested, you may readabout colon cancer here. There are several parts to the discussionand you may use the next button at the bottom of the printed materialand read all the pages. If you feel better after reading all thematerial, you should have a better understanding of the differenttests and laboratory tests and the pros and cons of each. You maywant to consider bookmarking the page and be able to refer back to itlater.
If you have a history of colon cancerin your family, please consider the colonoscopy as your prevention ofcolon cancer. If you have a history in your family, consider age 40as time to start having colonoscopies. Otherwise, age 50 is therecommended age for checking out your colon.