What are the alternative tests to colonoscopy?

Learn more about colonoscopy at www.YouAndColonoscopy.com
Drs. Gelrud and Echavarria discuss alternative tests to colonoscopy that can be used for early screening of colorectal cancer - flexible sigmoidoscopy and CT colonography (also known as virtual colonoscopy). They also talk about at-home stool tests that look for signs of cancer - guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT), fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and stool DNA test. The doctors also briefly talk about capsule endoscopy. The doctors emphasize that alternative tests are not a substitute for a regular colonoscopy. If anything unusual is found during an alternative test, you will need a follow-up colonoscopy to confirm the findings. The main advantage of colonoscopy is that it allows your doctor to both visually detect AND remove colon abnormalities during the same procedure. A popular feature of colonoscopy is that it only needs to be repeated every 10 years if the results are normal. Whereas, the alternative tests need to be repeated more frequently even if the results are normal - some every year, others every 3 to 5 years. Regardless which test you use, the most important thing is to get screened for colon cancer. Talk to your doctor about which test is right for you.

[@carlpahnke8992]

The FIT test misses 30% of stage 1 and 2 cancers-these are the ones you need to catch in order to survive colon cancer. FIT really doesn't do much better at late stage by missing 26%. Cologuard detects 94% of stage 1 and 2 cancers virtually the same as colonoscopy but without the risks. A few complain about a small percentage of false positives but the real problem is a false negative by FIT or colonoscopy (because of the 10 year screening interval). Cologuard is by far the latest and most technologically advanced test available today, is done at home with no risk of harms.

[@Gunnercv]

I hope the capsule arrives very soon

[@johnnyaingel5753]

AWESOME information

[@gjop-xm2xe]

What if you can't do anesthia

[@watchgoose]

see if they will let you do it under an epidural

[@GeorgeKnew]

The CT scan gives you WAY to much radiation... dangerous!!
I plan on doing the FIT test twice a year, as I got a positive result on a Cologuard...
I think the Cologuard is a SCAM, as they refused to even tell me which of the two tests, DNA and fecal blood... came back positive... why on earth would they refuse? And the "DNA" part of it sounds VERY fishy... I did a FIT test shortly after the Pos result... it was negative.

[@markorollo.]

That's just scaremongering, I've had several scans for different things, yes there is some radiation but it's very low