

Objective: This study aimed to determine the indications and findings of colonoscopy using the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) guidelines. This could imply that the indications for colonoscopy among the few adopters is inappropriate. Despite the existence of colonoscopy since the 1960s, its availability and uptake in majority of the public healthcare facilities in Kenya is incredibly low. Learn more about colorectal cancer care and colorectal disease services at University Hospitals.Background: Disorders of the colon are varied with the most common mode of diagnosis being colonoscopy. Our caregivers provide a wide range of advanced treatment options to help ensure your treatment plan is tailored to meet your specific needs. Related LinksĪt UH Seidman Cancer Center, we bring together a multidisciplinary team of compassionate and board-certified physicians who have expertise in treating colon and rectal cancer. So starting at age 45 and continuing for 30 years, and following the guidelines is the best way we know to minimize your risk of developing or having a complication from colorectal cancer. Those with higher risk factors should discuss starting screening earlier with their doctor. We have many studies that have shown that if you start screening at age 45 for those at average risk, and continue to screen until you’re at least 75 years old, the likelihood you will pass away from colon cancer is negligible. The best way to diagnose colon cancer and to beat colon cancer is to detect it early. So either way, a colonoscopy is going to be indicated. If you are found to have an abnormal stool test, whether it be blood in the stool or a DNA indicator, then you do have to undergo a definitive colonoscopy, diagnose the problem, and determine the next steps of action. Something Suspicious is Found Through a Stool Test - Then What? And, with a clean colonoscopy, you can do it once a decade rather than much more frequently as with the stool DNA tests. And it’s an indirect evaluation of the colon, whereas the colonoscopy is a direct inspection of the colon. The stool DNA tests only look for blood or they look for DNA of tumors. The colonoscopy is a more invasive procedure but it is the gold standard because you can actually visualize the whole colon and look to see if there are polyps or, frankly, pre-malignant lesions in the colon. The stool tests need to be done on an annual basis, so it’s a little bit more inconvenient yet less invasive. Those tests have to be performed on a much more regular basis. There’s what’s called the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) test, there’s the guaiac test, which tests for blood in the stool, and then there’s stool DNA tests. What Alternatives to Colonoscopy Are Available?įor those who are leery of undergoing a colonoscopy, there are stool tests there’s three separate ones that you can do. You will get an opinion from all of those physicians at once and receive the best evidence-based care, based on the discussions of that team. Once you have a diagnosis, at UH your treatment will be managed by a multidisciplinary team that consists of surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, social workers, all the different individuals who will be involved in your care. Now if you were found to have a malignancy during your colonoscopy, and if you have had screening regularly, you will find a malignancy earlier – so your treatment will be much more successful and have a higher rate of curing your cancer. So you have to have more regular screenings. That is because this tells your physician that you are at a somewhat higher risk to develop a malignancy in the future. If you are found to have certain high-risk polyps, you will likely need to have colonoscopies on a more regular basis. The screening colonoscopy is very important to ensure two things: that you’re at low risk or if you’re not at low risk, to determine how frequently you should have your follow-up colonoscopy. Here is what he had to say: Something Suspicious Is Found During a Colonoscopy: What's Next? Teknos about what happens after a colonoscopy or other types of colon cancer screening tests. But it could mean a change in your screening schedule. You can take comfort in knowing that your colon has been minutely inspected and that you have a clean bill of health.īut what if your doctor finds polyps during your colonoscopy? It doesn’t necessarily mean cancer, says Ted Teknos, MD, President and Scientific Director of UH Seidman Cancer Center. If you have a clean colonoscopy with no findings and are of average risk, you likely may not need to have another screening for 10 years. A screening colonoscopy can give you peace of mind about colorectal cancer.
