Colon Cancer Screening at Home

In acknowledgement of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Life Line Screening is announcing its new colon cancer screening kit that you can do yourself, in the privacy of your own home.

The EZ Detect test checks for hidden blood in the stool. It is an FDA-approved, non-invasive and inexpensive way to screen for colorectal cancer risk. There is no handling of stool and results are provided in two minutes, without waiting for laboratory results.

This kit is sold at Life Line Screening events, so make sure to ask for it at your next screening.

Four myths about Colorectal Cancer:

Myth #1: Colorectal cancer is a man's disease.
Truth: Colorectal cancer is just as common among women as men. In the U.S., the lifetime risk of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer is 5.5% for men and 5.1% for women.

Myth #2: Colon cancer cannot be prevented.
Truth: In many cases colon cancer can be prevented. Colon cancer almost always starts with a small growth (polyp). If found early, it can be removed, stopping colon cancer before it starts.

Myth #3: Age doesn't matter when it comes to getting colon cancer.
Truth: More than 90% of colon cancer cases occur in people age 50 and older. For this reason, the American Cancer Society recommends you start getting tested for the disease at age 50.

Myth #4: African Americans are not at risk for colon cancer.
Truth: African-American men and women are diagnosed with and die from colon cancer at higher rates than men and women of any other U.S. racial or ethnic group.

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008 almost 150,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Guidelines from the host of prestigious medical societies such as the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology and the American College of Gastroenterology, recommend routine colorectal cancer screening at age 50. Fecal occult blood testing is the only method of testing that is inexpensive and can be done without a physician procedure. It does not require any special dietary or laxative preparation.

If the test is positive, it is necessary to take the results to your physician to talk about next steps. There are other bowel conditions such as hemorrhoids or colitis that can cause the test to be positive and a doctor can help determine the underlying cause.

When you go to your next Life Line Screening ask about our at-home Colorectal Cancer screening kit.

Sources: American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2008-2010. ; Smith RA, Cokkinides V, Brawley OW. Cancer screening in the United States, 2009: A review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and issues in cancer screening. CA Cancer J Clin 2009;59;27-41. Mandel JS, Bond JH, Church TR, et al. Reducing mortality from colorectal cancer by screening for fecal occult blood. Minnesota Colon Cancer Control Study. N Engl J Med 1993;328:1365-71.