All people over the age of 45 and young people with certain rare genetic syndromes are shown a virtual colonoscopy, which is an examination of the intestine using computed tomography. Suna Isakova, an oncologist at the SberHealth medical online service, told socialbites.ca about this.
Most cases of colon cancer occur in people over the age of 50. It is often preceded by the development of small benign tumors – intestinal polyps. Because they develop slowly over several years, cancer can be caught at a very early stage. In this case, serious treatment and death can be avoided.
One of the most accurate methods of diagnosing colon cancer (colorectal cancer) is colonoscopy, during which the doctor examines the organ using a special device – an endoscope. This procedure is associated with certain risks and is unpleasant, so in some cases it can be replaced by virtual colonoscopy using computed tomography.
“According to international guidelines, screening for colorectal cancer begins at age 45 and includes one of the following options: a stool occult blood test annually, a virtual colonoscopy every 5 years, or an endoscopic colonoscopy every 10 years. In our country, patients over the age of 40 undergo an annual medical examination, which also includes a stool test for occult blood. A positive result could be the basis for guiding the patient to colonoscopy,” said Isakova.
The doctor noted that if at least one relative of a person has colorectal cancer who falls ill over the age of 40, screening should begin 10 years ago.
“You can refer to an oncologist, a therapist. To date, there is no official recommendation for early screening in such patients, so you will have to conduct the examinations on your own. There are also rarer genetic syndromes (Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis) where screening begins at a younger age and is done annually. At the same time, screening includes colonoscopy, not CT colonoscopy, and there is no stool for occult blood, ”explained the oncologist.