Colon Cancer screening in Dubai

No one looks forward to a bowel prep that goes with some colorectal cancer screening tests. But colorectal cancer screening – testing to look for cancer before symptoms start – can help save lives. Screening can find colorectal cancer early when it’s small and might be easier to treat. There are several different screening options available. No matter which one you choose, the important thing is to be tested.

The recommended tests fall into 2 categories:

Stool-based tests

Stool-based tests are non-invasive colorectal cancer screening options. No special diet or bowel preparation (no laxatives or enemas) is required for a stool-based test. However, if the test does show abnormal signs of blood or a possible cancer or pre-cancer, a colonoscopy will be needed to confirm the result, and possibly to remove any abnormal findings or polyps. It’s important to remember the cause of an abnormal result may be a non-cancerous condition, such as ulcers or hemorrhoids.

Stool-based tests are not the best option for everyone. They are recommended for people who have an average risk for colorectal cancer: no personal history of pre-cancerous polyps, no colorectal cancer that runs in the family, or no other risk factors.

• Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) are non-invasive tests used to find tiny amounts of blood in the stool that could be a sign of cancer or large polyps. Tell where the blood might be coming from. That’s why any abnormal result will need to be followed up with a colonoscopy. Stool tests like these need to be done every year.

Visual tests

Visual or structural tests are invasive tests that look inside the colon and rectum for abnormal areas that might be cancer or polyps. If a stool-based test was done first and had an abnormal result, a visual test can help find out why.

• Colonoscopy uses a flexible lighted tube with a small camera on the end to look at the entire length of the colon and rectum. If polyps are found, they may be removed during the test. To prepare for the test, you may be asked to follow a special diet for a day or two before the test. You will also need to clean out your colon with strong laxatives (called a bowel prep) and sometimes with enemas, as well. Most people are sedated during the test.
• CT colonography (also called virtual colonoscopy) is a scan of the colon and rectum that produces detailed cross-sectional images so the doctor can look for polyps or cancer. It requires bowel prep, but no sedation. Air is pumped into the rectum and colon, and then a CT scanner is used to take images of the colon. If something is seen that may need to be biopsied, a follow-up colonoscopy will be needed. CT colonography must be done every 5 years.

Talk to your doctor about screening

Regular screening is one of the most powerful ways to prevent colorectal cancer. If polyps are found during colorectal cancer testing, they can usually be removed before they have the chance to turn into cancer. Testing can also result in finding cancer early, when it’s smaller and might be easier to treat.