Intestinal cancer test at home; Methods, signs and interpretation of tests

یکی از درس‌هایی که همه‌گیری کرونا به ما یاد داد این بود که می‌توانیم بسیاری از خدمات پزشکی را در خانه انجام دهیم. برای بعضی افراد، این موضوع به معنای استفاده از آزمایش‌های غربالگری خانگی برای سرطان روده بزرگ هم می‌شود. این آزمایش‌ها سال‌هاست که تأیید شده‌اند، اما هنوز در بسیاری از موارد، کولونوسکوپی به‌عنوان روش اصلی تشخیص مورد استفاده قرار می‌گیرد. در چنین شرایطی، دریافت به‌موقع نوبت دکتر کولونوسکوپی نقش مهمی در تشخیص دقیق و پیشگیری از پیشرفت بیماری دارد. Stay with us until the end of the article to learn more about colon cancer testing at home.

What is the colon cancer test at home?

The colon cancer test at home is one of the quick and easy tests that does not require special preparation. This test is actually a kit that allows you to collect a sample of your stool at home with a device such as a pen or brush and place it on the kit. It is quick and easy and requires no bowel preparation. In the next step, the stool sample is sent to the doctor's office or laboratory, where it is checked for signs of colon cancer, such as very low blood levels caused by tumors or precancerous polyps, or the presence of DNA from cancer cells.

But these tests are not suitable for everyone. People who have symptoms of colon cancer, or are more likely to develop this type of cancer (for example, a family history of colon cancer or diseases such as ) should still have regular colonoscopies.

Types of colon cancer detection tests in Home

There are several types of home bowel tests, including:

Guiac Fecal Occult Blood Test (gFOBT): Finds blood in the stool using chemicals that can be a sign of colorectal cancer. This test should be done annually. Unlike other home tests, this test requires more than one stool sample to be collected. Also, due to the effect of medicines and some foods on the test result, you should avoid eating these substances for a few days before the test. This method is less common than other home methods.
Stool immunochemical test (FIT): Detects blood in the stool using antibodies. This test should be done annually. This test is usually done with only one stool sample and does not require changing the diet or medications before the test.
Astool multi-target DNA test (mt-sDNA) or Coloraguard: This test is also known as the FIT-DNA test. This test can detect the DNA of cancer cells in the stool. On the other hand, it has a FIT compound to check the blood in the stool. This test should be done every three years.

Accuracy of Home Colon Tests

The accuracy of home screening tests varies in their ability to detect colon cancer. The FIT-DNA test is the most sensitive type of test and detects the presence of cancer in about 92% of cases. FIT tests detect cancer about 80-82% of the time, but gFOBT test is less sensitive and only detects between 20-50% of cancers; For this reason, it is used less often.

Remember that sometimes home test results are false positive, meaning they are reacting to bleeding from other polyps or blood vessel abnormalities. This happens in about 14% of cases in FIT-DNA tests and about 5% in FIT tests. On the other hand, be aware that home tests only indicate the possibility of colon cancer. For a definitive diagnosis, you need a colonoscopy.

Advantages and limitations of home testing

Home testing is a simple and non-invasive method that can provide an early assessment of the presence of colon cancer symptoms in people at moderate risk of cancer. This test is more convenient than colonoscopy because it does not need to be prepared and performed at home, and it is considered a simple test for most people. On the other hand, the home test has other advantages, including:

The kit can be obtained from the pharmacy without a prescription;
You do not need to pay extra for these tests;
There is no anesthesia or sedative injection;
You do not need to clean the intestines by changing the diet and using laxatives;
Low risk of bleeding or damage to the There is no intestine either.

However, the accuracy and sensitivity of home kits is lower than colonoscopy and may have false positive and negative results. Also, if you are more prone to cancer, it is better to use a colonoscopy instead of using a home kit.

What to do after the test?

If the result of your home test is positive, you should see a gastroenterologist for a follow-up colonoscopy to find and remove precancerous tumors or polyps. If the test result is negative, you should still watch out for possible symptoms of colon cancer, including:

Feeling incomplete emptying;
Blood in the stool;
Stool thinner than normal;
Frequent feeling of fullness or bloating;
Weight loss for no apparent reason.

If you have any of these symptoms, you probably need a colonoscopy. If you have no symptoms and are at moderate risk, you should continue to have colon exams at home every 1 to 3 years.

Colon cancer is treatable if detected early; So don't put off screening when you're hesitating about which test to choose.

The best bowel screening test is the one you do!

The most important symptoms of colon cancer

Intestinal cancer depending on the stage The disease can appear with different symptoms. Some symptoms in the early stages are mild and gradual and may be easily ignored, while in the advanced stages, the symptoms become more severe and obvious. For this reason, knowing the symptoms at each stage can help in early diagnosis and timely action. Next, we examine the symptoms of colon cancer based on the stage of the disease.

Early symptoms

The early symptoms of colon cancer may be mild and gradual, so that many people do not notice it in the early stages, but knowing these symptoms can help early diagnosis and effective treatment. These include:

Persistent diarrhea or constipation for no apparent reason;
Changes in the consistency or shape of stool (such as narrow stools);
Feeling incomplete (you feel that the bowels have not completely emptied);
Light or dark (tar-like) blood in the stool (blood may be visible to the eye or only detected in a stool test)
Cramp or Chronic abdominal pain;
Feelings of bloating or heaviness;
Sudden weight loss without changes in diet or physical activity;
Anemia from hidden bleeding from the intestines that can cause persistent fatigue;
Vomiting or nausea from partial intestinal obstruction.

Remember that the above symptoms may be caused by more common digestive problems such as hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, or infections. be intestinal, but if these symptoms persist for more than a few weeks or become more severe, you should definitely consult a doctor.

Advanced symptoms

Advanced symptoms of colon cancer are usually more severe and widespread because the tumor may grow and spread to surrounding tissues or other organs. In this case, you may experience various symptoms, including:

Severe and continuous abdominal pain due to the enlargement of the tumor or intestinal blockage;
Intestinal obstruction;
Severe nausea and vomiting;
Lots of flatulence and inability to expel flatulence or stool;
Feeling of heaviness and swelling of the abdomen;
Severe and frequent bleeding from bowel;
severe anemia;
extreme weakness and fatigue;
significant and rapid weight loss for no apparent reason;
palpable swelling or lump in the abdomen;
symptoms from metastasis (spread of cancer);
severe weakness and persistent lethargy;

If the cancer has spread to the liver, lungs, or other organs, you may have other symptoms. Including:

Jaundice of the skin and eyes (in case of liver involvement);
Shortness of breath or persistent cough (in case of lung involvement);
Bone pain or unusual fractures (in case of metastasis to bones).

methods of colon cancer testing and diagnosis

There is colon cancer screening:

Colonoscopy: This test is considered the gold standard and is the best way to detect colon cancer. In this method, the doctor directly observes the inside of the large intestine and, if necessary, removes precancerous polyps. With the help of a special brush or pen, you collect some stool and send it to the laboratory or doctor. The stool sample is checked for blood and cancer cell DNA. Blood in the stool is a sign of precancerous polyps or cancer.

Next, we'll talk about these two methods, as well as other possible methods.

What is a colonoscopy?

The most comprehensive screening test for colon cancer is a colonoscopy, a procedure that allows your doctor to see inside your colon and find masses. remove the suspect.

Before performing the test, you should drink liquid substances to help clean the intestine and the doctor can see the intestinal environment clearly.

In the office or treatment center, you will be anesthetized or you will be given a sedative and painkiller; Then the doctor inserts a long and flexible tube into the intestine. This tube has a small camera and surgical instruments. After the test, you go to the recovery section to become fully awake. It is better to have a family member or friend drive you home because you may be a little confused. You can eat right away and go back to work the next day.

It's a long and sometimes uncomfortable process, but it's worth it. In fact, colonoscopy is the most sensitive test available for detecting colon cancer and detects at least 95% of cancers. On the other hand, if the doctor removes precancerous polyps, it prevents the development of cancer in the future.

A screening colonoscopy is recommended from the age of 45. If you do not have polyps, this test is repeated every 10 years until the age of 75. If the risk of colon cancer is higher, testing may be done at shorter intervals.

Is home testing as effective as a colonoscopy?

Colon cancer and the need for screening have been in the news a lot in recent years. Also, the number of colon cancer diagnoses in people under 50 has increased. For this reason, it is recommended to start screenings from the age of 45.

The best thing is to consult your doctor about the right method for you. If you are at high risk for colon cancer, a colonoscopy is probably the best option because it is more accurate. If you're at moderate risk or have a fear of anesthesia, can't take time off, or have other problems, home testing is a good option. Home tests are quick and effective, but they may give false positive or false negative results.

Using a home test does not mean you no longer need a colonoscopy. If the home test shows a problem, a colonoscopy may be needed. However, any type of test is better than none.

Can bowel cancer be diagnosed with a blood test?

No! A blood test cannot accurately diagnose colon cancer, but it can generally show the possibility of cancer.

How is the diagnosis of colon cancer with ultrasound?

Usually ultrasound is not an accurate method to diagnose colon cancer. This method is usually used to examine and diagnose abdominal problems such as the presence of a mass and abdominal inflammation, but it has limitations for diagnosing intestinal cancer, such as:

The large intestine cannot be seen well with regular ultrasound due to the presence of gas, curvature and its position; And not with high accuracy.

Other medical methods for diagnosing colon cancer

Some people may choose two other imaging tests that are usually recommended every 5 years, including:

Virtual colonoscopy: in this method, without the need for anesthesia from CT scan (CT) of intestine and rectum is used; However, the preparation method for this test is the same as a colonoscopy; flexible sigmoidoscopy: using a narrow, flexible, lighted tube to view the inside of the rectum and a small part of the intestine. This method does not require anesthesia and the preparation for it is similar to colonoscopy.

Interpretation of colon cancer test

It will be ready in a few weeks. A positive result means blood or the presence of cancer cell DNA in the stool, and you need a colonoscopy to confirm the test result. A negative result means that no blood was found in the stool, and depending on the type of test, you should repeat the test between 1 and 3 years from now. In this case, the laboratory and the doctor will guide you.

Important points in the interpretation of the answer

Be sure to talk to the doctor about the test result. If there is a problem, the doctor will probably recommend a colonoscopy. If there is no problem, you can continue screening as usual. If you have a family history of polyps, bowel disease, or bowel cancer, your screening schedule may change.

Also, let your doctor know if you have any symptoms after the screening, including:

Change in bowel habits;
Blood in or on the stool;
Diarrhea, constipation, or a feeling that the bowels are not emptying completely;
Abdominal pain or cramping that does not go away. It can't be;
unreasonable weight loss.

Doctor's last word

Although home bowel test is less sensitive than colonoscopy, it is a suitable option for many people. There are different types of these tests. Therefore, it is better to consult a doctor about the best option. If you choose a home test, follow the instructions carefully and check the results with your doctor. If for any reason the doctor's explanation was not enough for you or if you have questions about the test, you can get help from the DoctorDoctor website. Visiting online or getting an appointment with the best doctors in person will help you as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to test for colon cancer at home?

Yes. There are three different types of at-home colon cancer test kits that check for blood and DNA related to cancer cells in the stool. style="display:none"> What are the most important early symptoms of colon cancer?

Can colon cancer be detected by a blood test?

What is the role of the stool test in the diagnosis of colon cancer?

How often should I have a colonoscopy or home test?

Who are the home bowel test suitable for?

Which people are most at risk? Are you prone to colon cancer?