Good news: Colon cancer, one of the most common types of cancer, has a survival rate as high as 90% if you're diagnosed early. Bad news: it takes only one pre-malignant undetected polyp to develop the cancer.
Those who are predisposed to the cancer or suspected of having it are often advised to undergo a screening test, which takes hours, some sedation, fasting, and drinking of a diuretic. A doctor then inserts an instrument for colonoscopy to check if you have polyps and remove them. They will be sent to the lab to undergo testing.
What if you have more control on when you will be tested?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved a home screening test kit for colon cancer called Cologuard. Developed by Exact Sciences, the test may be covered by Medicare and Medicaid very soon provided that the user is at least 50 years old but not more than 85 years old, asymptomatic, and of average risk, which means he or she has no colorectal cancer or polyps history, no family diagnosed with colon issues, and is not suffering from any colon-related diseases.
As for the test, the process is very simple. Buy the home test kit, collect a stool sample, send it to Exact Sciences lab for diagnostics using the package that comes along with the box, and wait for results.
The very simple procedure is based on the fact that the colon constantly sheds cells from the lining. These cells can then be detected in stools, and the lab can determine whether these cells are pre-cancerous or not.
The test doesn't require any kind of preparation, including fasting and diuretic. There's no downtime, and you can easily squeeze this in to your daily routine. It's only when it comes back positive that the doctor may recommend for colonoscopy.
However, you cannot just decide when to take the test. For one, it's not available over the counter, which means your doctor should recommend that you take the test-or convince him to allow you. Moreover, since this is just a screening test, it doesn't tell your genetic risk to colon cancer.
Currently, the test is available in the United States. It may also be sold in selected European countries once the CE mark is approved.