A new reason to get screened for colon cancer – you can do it at home

If you’re over 50, it’s a safe bet that your physician has approached you to be screened for colon cancer. As the second-leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women in the U.S. (behind only lung cancer), colon cancer will claim close to 50,000 lives in the U.S. this year alone.

Despite these scary statistics, not everyone who should be screened for colon cancer is doing so. The American Cancer Society and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends adults at average risk for colon cancer begin screening for the disease at age 50. Unfortunately, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 percent of people in Pennsylvania age 50 and older who are eligible don’t get screened, opening the door to this highly preventable and treatable cancer.

The inconvenience and discomfort many patients associate with a colonoscopy, which requires a special diet, preparation and an invasive procedure, leads some patients to avoid screening altogether. Nevertheless, when caught early through proper screening, colon cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. When detected at an early, localized stage, the five-year survival rate for colon cancer is greater than 90 percent.

The good news is that a colonoscopy is no longer your only option to get screened for colon cancer.

For the past three years, I’ve offered a newer, noninvasive screening option for my patients called Cologuard, the first and only FDA-approved at-home stool DNA screening test for colon cancer for patients at average risk.

Unlike the standard colonoscopy, the Cologuard test does not require medication, dietary restrictions or stool preparation before taking the test. It’s shipped directly to your home, where you collect a single stool sample using a kit and send it to the lab for testing. If the test comes back positive, patients are advised to go in for a traditional colonoscopy. Cologuard is also covered by Medicare and a large cross-section of health plans nationwide.

While it’s not a replacement for a colonoscopy, Cologuard has been the preferred option for several of my patients who would have otherwise opted out of getting screened because they were hesitant or unable to get a colonoscopy.

Now that there is a noexcuse option to protect yourself from this deadly disease, if you are over 50 or caring for someone who is, I implore you to talk to your doctor about getting screened for colon cancer. It will give you and your loved ones peace of mind. Gary A Cooperstein, D.O. is a board-certified family physician practicing clinical medicine in Downington as an MDVIP associated practitioner delivering personalized style healthcare with an emphasis on preventative health. He is also an Associate Clinical Professor at the Drexel Hahnemann University’s Physician Assistant Program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as well as a Senior FAA medical examiner and Board Certified Medical Review Officer.