Get Screened for Colorectal Cancer

Inova provides options, such as colonoscopy, to patients

Condition: Colorectal cancer, sometimes called colon cancer or bowel cancer, is a common form of cancer, affecting about 1 in 24 women and 1 in 22 men at some point in their lives.

Screening Options: If you’re anxious about the thought of a colonoscopy, you have alternatives. Doctors now offer several screening options.

• Colonoscopy: This is the gold standard of colorectal cancer screening procedures. A diagnostic procedure, it’s also preventive because cancer-causing polyps can be removed during the exam.
• Virtual colonoscopy: This procedure generally is used for people who are medically unable to get a colonoscopy. It requires the same prep as a colonoscopy but no sedation.
• Fecal occult blood tests: While not as popular as colonoscopy, these tests that detect blood in a stool sample can be acceptable for some patients.
• Cologuard^®: Also known as a stool DNA test, this is the only take-at-home screening method currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. A patient with a positive result should undergo a colonoscopy.

Recommendations:

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recently lowered its recommended age for beginning colorectal cancer screenings from 50 to 45. However, this recommendation is for people without symptoms who have no family history of the disease. Talk to your doctor to find out more.

Get Screened
Schedule a screening today at Inova today.