Colon Screening?

Question

At what age should you have a colon screening if you has a parent that has colon cancer. Went to doctor and he told me I should still wait until age 50. I am currently age 42.

Answer 1

Most consensus groups recommend starting screening for cancer at age 50, or 10 years before the youngest 1st degree relative was diagnosed with colon/rectal cancer. (i.e. if your father was diagnosed with cancer at 52, you should start screening at 42).

How to screen varies greatly, and is a subject of much debate. The best evidence is still for fecal occult blood testing (FOBT - looking for blood in the stool) and getting colonoscopies on those who are positive, however, common sense suggests that getting regular (every 3-10 years) colonoscopies might be even safer.

In Canada we recommend using FOBT with colonoscopies for positive results in everyone over 50 (or 10 years before youngest family diagnosis). This recommendation is likely because of the resource issue in Canada. Despite this, some physicians will still request/perform screening colonoscopies, because they feel it is the safest thing to do.

In the US, resources are less of an issue (and patients who can or can not afford screening will select themselves), and so the recommendations are stronger. While they vary, in general, they suggest that screening should be with colonoscopy every 5-10 years, starting as outlined above.

I think that the starting age guidelines as recommended is reasonable. If you are very concerned, however, it would be also reasonable to request FOBT annually from your doctor and if any of these come back positive to peform more invasive tests (i.e. colonoscopy).

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

There is not age limit for getting any type of cancer. It may come anytime. But do not worry. However your parent had this disease you should be watchful and if you get any of the following symptoms please see doctor again. -

Colon cancer causes symptoms related to its local presence in the large bowel or by its effect on other organs if it has spread. These symptoms may occur alone or in combination:

* a change in bowel habit
* blood in the stool
* bloating, persistent abdominal distention
* constipation
* a feeling of fullness even after having a bowel movement
* narrowing of the stool—so-called ribbon stools
* persistent, chronic fatigue
* abdominal discomfort
* unexplained weight loss
* and, very rarely, nausea and vomiting

Most of these symptoms are caused by the physical presence of the tumor mass in the colon. Similar symptoms can be caused by other processes; these are not absolutely specific to colon cancer. The key is recognizing that the persistence of these types of symptoms without ready explanation should prompt the individual to seek medical evaluation.

If a tumor develops in the colon, it will begin to cause symptoms as it reaches a certain size. The symptoms are caused by the tumor blocking the opening in the colon. In addition, the tumor commonly oozes blood that is lost in the stool. (Often, this blood is not visible.) This results in anemia and chronic fatigue. Weight loss is a late symptom, often implying substantial obstruction or the presence of systemic disease.-

Answer 3

Since I've been through it myself, I'll try to answer your question. You are right, doctors feel there is no need until after 50 but I disagree. I would get a colonoscopy every 2 years at least. I have 3 children whose doctors won't test them until they are 50 and I worry all the time about them. Bottom line-play it safe, get tested. It's a sneaky disease and can grow for years before there are any signs. The test is nothing compared to the surgery and chemo.

Answer 4

¿Intestino irritable? Uf…te doy la bienvenida al infierno. Yo lo he vivido muchos años y conozco a varias personas que han pasado por ello, y en ningún caso es una experiencia agradable.
Los dolores, el cuidado con lo que comes, las molestias, el mal humor asociado…lo dicho, un infierno.
Que yo sepa no hay ninguna solución “milagrosa”, per se, pero lo que sí tenemos es esto:
http://intestinoirritable.youtips.info
Con eso deberías ser más que capaz de combatir los síntomas del síndrome del intestino irritable y mejorar mucho tu calidad de vida. A mí me sirvió y espero que a ti también.
Ánimo.

Answer 5

With a family history I'd go before 50. You can do it now, hopefully you have insurance and they'll almost certainly cover a colonoscopy.

Answer 6

Gastroenterologist,oncologist