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Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, accounting for almost 2 million new cancer cases each year, according to the World Health Organization.
Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, typically affects older adults, although it can happen at any age.
Screening for colorectal cancer is important to identify precancerous polyps that could develop into cancer, and several screening options are available to patients.
But which screening tool is right for you?
"The best screening tool is the one you're willing to get," says Dr. James East, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London. "There's no point in being set up for a colonoscopy if you're not willing to come for it. And there are a wide range of options now for bowel cancer screening — all of which provide substantial protection against bowel cancer."
Screening test options for colorectal cancer include:
- Colonoscopy.
- Stool DNA test.
- Fecal immunochemical test.
- Virtual colonoscopy, or CT colonography.
While effective screening tools exist, research using artificial intelligence (AI) to develop better techniques to detect polyps is hoping to improve screening even further.
"I think the role of AI in endoscopy is huge. And it's it's coming to clinical care," says Dr. East. "This is really translating facial recognition technology, but instead of recognizing faces, the AI recognizes polyps at an astonishing rate during a live colonoscopy. This is really a game changer for us."
On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. East discusses advances in colorectal cancer screening.
To practice safe social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, this interview was conducted using video conferencing. The sound and video quality are representative of the technology used. For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.
Connect with others talking about colorectal cancer and supporting one another in the Colorectal Cancer support group.
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Screening?
86, Cologard screening indicated possible positive. Urologist will not perform colonoscomy on anyone over 75. Claim is against ethical guidlines.
So how can you get further screening?
Hi Marv, according to research, "Colonoscopy in very elderly patients (over 80 years of age) carries a greater risk of complications, adverse events and morbidity than in younger patients, and is associated with lower completion rates and higher chance of poor bowel preparation. Although colonoscopic yield increases with age, several studies have suggested that the potential benefits are significantly decreased because of shorter life expectancy and greater prevalence of comorbidities. Thus, screening colonoscopy in very elderly patients should be performed only after careful consideration of potential benefits, risks and patient preferences. Diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy are more likely to benefit even very elderly patients, and in most cases should be performed if indicated."
See the full article here:
- Performing colonoscopy in elderly and very elderly patients: Risks, costs and benefits https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4055990/
Given that you cologard screening indicated that you have a possible positive, I would want further investigation to be done. Have other possibilities been suggested?
Thank you for your response and response Andy valuation II have received no suggestions
whatsoever for alternative alternative diagnostics from either myou know my primary care or my is my urologist