Early detection can help you fight colon cancer, the second leading cause of death in the United States, but many people are leery of the procedure. Now, a non-invasive colon cancer screening test can be taken right at home.
With Cologuard, using the container provided, you mail a stool sample to a lab. Dr. Joseph Ferroni says Cologuard is more than 90 percent accurate, testing for colon cancer and pre-cancerous polyps.
“As that starts to grow, it starts to shed its DNA, the cells containing DNA, into the stool. So that’s what we’re measuring,” he explains.
At Blair Gastroenterological Associates, Dr. Ralph McKibbin says, “Half of people have polyps or precancerous polyps, so there’s a good number of people that will find things, but you know, if luck’s in your favor it’ll be normal.”
Cologuard is intended to be used by people at average risk of colon cancer, those without a family history of polyps or cancer. If the test shows something suspicious, you’ll need to have a colonoscopy.
Dr. McKibbin says Cologuard is a good way to increase the number of people being screened for colon cancer.
“When Reagan was president, 15 percent of people had been screened. Today, we’re up to about two-thirds, and we want to hit 80 percent. People are reluctant to go there, so the test that people actually do is the best one,” he says.
Cologuard must be ordered by a doctor and is only appropriate for people at average risk for colon cancer. It is not a replacement for colonoscopy in people at high-risk.
