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Colorectal cancer screening options include at-home stool-sample tests, which are more convenient for patients. Despite these alternatives, colonoscopy remains the most effective method.
The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is a diagnostic technique that examines stool samples for traces of non-visible blood, which could potentially indicate conditions including bowel cancer. [1] Symptoms which could be caused by bowel cancer and suggest a FIT include a change in bowel habit, anaemia , unexplained weight loss, and abdominal pain .
Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), as its name implies, aims to detect subtle blood loss in the gastrointestinal tract, anywhere from the mouth to the colon.Positive tests ("positive stool") may result from either upper gastrointestinal bleeding or lower gastrointestinal bleeding and warrant further investigation for peptic ulcers or a malignancy (such as colorectal cancer or gastric cancer).
In addition to screening, colonoscopies can be used as a diagnostic tool—such as when symptoms of colorectal cancer are present blood in the stool, weight loss, and a change in bowel habits.
M2-PK, as measured in feces, is a potential tumor marker for colorectal cancer.When measured in feces with a cutoff value of 4 U/ml, its sensitivity has been estimated to be 85% (with a 95% confidence interval of 65 to 96%) for colon cancer and 56% (confidence interval 41–74%) for rectal cancer. [1]
In the U.S., screening is recommended for healthy adults ages 45 to 75 at average risk for colon cancer. Frequency depends on the test: a routine colonoscopy is every 10 years.
Either the patient or medical professional smears a small fecal sample on to the film. The fecal sample is obtained by catching the stool and transferring a sample with an applicator. Digital rectal examination specimens are also used but this method is discouraged for colorectal cancer screening due to very poor performance characteristics. [10]
U.S. health regulators on Monday approved a first-of-its-kind blood test for colon cancer, offering a new way of screening for a leading cause of cancer deaths. Test manufacturer Guardant said the ...