How to Decide Your Colon Cancer Screening Method?

Рет қаралды 5,462

Жыл бұрын

What's the best way to screen for colon cancer? In this video, I describe the factors to consider to make your choice on how to answer this question. I discuss the pros and cons of the most common methods to screen for colon cancer - a colonoscopy, a Cologuard, and a FIT test. I discuss which methods detect colon cancer and which method prevents colon cancer. I consider the cost differences of each of these tests and when insurance may not cover a test. I also present the risks of the tests. The accuracy of these tests differ so I break down the statistics for how well these test detect cancer, how well they detect precursors to cancer, and some of the reasons the test may be wrong. Finally, I emphasize the importance of convenience and availability. Ultimately, the best test is the test you complete which ensures you have been screened and helps us toward the goal that all eligible patients be screened for colon cancer.
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DISCLAIMER: While I am a Gastroenterologist, I am not acting as your Gastroenterologist. The information provided on this channel is intended to be general educational content and not directed towards any one individual. If you believe you have a medical condition that deserves attention please seek care from your healthcare provider. If you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, call 911.

Пікірлер: 30

@hiserra Жыл бұрын

Colonoscopy done! Polyps found and removed! Your videos were so helpful in getting me through my concern about the prep which ultimately was not nearly as bad as I feared! Thank you!

@MarkCooperMD Жыл бұрын

Glad I could help!

@jentan4531 Жыл бұрын

Here in Australia we have a national bowel cancer screening program. Everyone between 50 and 74 years receives a free poo test in the mail every 2 years. Also, our colonoscopies are included in our national health care - so if we need one we don't have to worry about the cost. I think it's great given how prevalent this type of cancer is.

@MarkCooperMD Жыл бұрын

Australia also bought a limitless supply of hepatitis C treatments from one of the large pharmaceutical companies. Now the Australian government can focus on effectively delivering the treatment without concern for its unit cost. Cool!

@jentan4531 Жыл бұрын

@@MarkCooperMD I didn't know that!

@JuliaWalker-t6e 7 күн бұрын

LIFESAVER 👀

@AllEmerald Жыл бұрын

Great channel please keep making videos

@MarkCooperMD Жыл бұрын

Thanks I hope you continue to enjoy the channel!

@JuliaWalker-t6e 7 күн бұрын

BLESSINGS 💞 LIFE-SAVER👀

@mitchellbarnow1709 Жыл бұрын

Kaiser in the San Francisco Bay Area tried to tell everyone that they only wanted the blood in the stool home test done and that a colonoscopy would only be performed if blood was in the stool and that's exactly what you were talking about. My friend was sure happy be he wouldn't have to do the prep. They even had their Doctors promoting this new cost cutting procedure. It is definitely not about patient care, it is about providing the lowest cost health care. I have several friends that have Kaiser through work and you have to fight for everything. Sorry to blab on and on Dr Cooper!

@MarkCooperMD Жыл бұрын

It's an important point to bring up. A few years ago Kaiser completed a study wherein they gave a home stool blood test to patients who declined a colonoscopy. The results were impressive -- there was a substantial increase of patients who participated in colon cancer screening and the number of colon cancers in the population decreased. Many patients who had a positive stool blood test were motivated to pursue a colonoscopy they would have avoided without knowing they had blood in their stool. I think it's important to maintain choice so I would prefer they gave patients an option. Patients should be aware that colonoscopy is the preferred screening tool for anyone who has above average risk for developing colon cancer. The home stool blood tests are a great option for those with average risk who prefer this option. Ultimately, I'm happy for more people to participate in colon cancer screening.

@andyyang7053 9 ай бұрын

One of the Kaiser doctor refused my five year colonoscopy before, I changed another doctor and my new doctor is very understandable and he gave me a colonoscopy immediately.

@andredebruyn1453 3 ай бұрын

never a colonoscopie, no sir!!

@Dee-hi5zj 5 ай бұрын

I'm curious why you haven't mentioned the Virtual Colonoscopy? according to Mayo (I believe) it's relatively non-invasive and finds issues that none of the other tests you mentioned find. Just curious. It sounds like a good option to us who are elderly and concerned about the risks of colonoscopy.

@MarkCooperMD 5 ай бұрын

Because outside of Mayo and select academic centers I don’t think it’s done very reliably. This is a popular question though.

@steveokenivo3256 Ай бұрын

My colonoscopy showed nothing but I still have heavy bleeding.

@pedromedeiros1186 Ай бұрын

Hemorroids?

@sasha48189 Жыл бұрын

I’m 45 scared to get colonoscopy

@itsmebedazzle 6 ай бұрын

You don't feel it. It's the prep that's terrible.

@geckster109 3 ай бұрын

@@itsmebedazzle you'll feel it if they perforate your bowel!

@michaelshelnutt3534 4 ай бұрын

I just collected a sample for Cologuard- and seen blood. I have a history of hemorrhoids, will they know the difference?

@MarkCooperMD 4 ай бұрын

cologuard can not distinguish blood from hemorrhoids and blood from tumor. So the cologuard should be a positive test and if it’s not positive it underscores that it’s not that sensitive. Either way this highlights a significant con of cologuard. It’s also worth noting that the test performs particularly poorly in younger patients and is considered less reliable for those under 50. Yet the company has started aggressively advertising to the 45-50 age group.

@michaelshelnutt3534 4 ай бұрын

@@MarkCooperMD I decided to throw the kit away and not send it in. I will have my Dr. set me up for a colonoscopy instead. Thank you for the reply.

@MarkCooperMD 4 ай бұрын

It sounds like you’d be stuck doing a colonoscopy anyway. They don’t charge for the test until you return it. So having thrown it away there should be no charge. I’m glad to have helped.

@dilipnachane9352 2 ай бұрын

Statistically speaking, one way to reduce the possibility of false negatives of the FIT Tests would be to have the stool test on 3 successive days.

@MarkCooperMD 2 ай бұрын

This is often done in practice. The trade off is raising false positives. But that’s acceptable as we can follow with a test that is highly accurate…a colonoscopy.