Tag

Colonoscopy

All articles tagged with #colonoscopy

health17 hours ago•3 min saved

Blood Test Joins Colorectal Cancer Screening to Reach the Underscreened

The American Cancer Society added the Shield blood test as a recommended option for colorectal cancer screening for people who can’t or won’t have colonoscopies or stool tests. It’s not a replacement for colonoscopy; it’s intended to increase screening among the under-screened. The Shield test detects DNA fragments from tumors and, while about 83% effective at detecting existing cancer, is less reliable for early-stage disease and precancerous polyps. It costs $895 out of pocket and insurance coverage isn’t guaranteed. Most doctors stress that colonoscopy remains the gold standard and screening options vary (stool tests, Cologuard/ColoSense) with follow-up colonoscopy required if a test is positive. Experts say expanding options could boost uptake, since screening should start at 45 for average risk.

via NBC News|

#colonoscopy #colorectal-cancer-screening #guardant-health

health2 days ago•6 min saved

Aging reshapes medical routines: when less is more for seniors

With age, the risk-benefit calculus of routine care shifts, prompting reconsideration of three practices: treating actinic keratoses on the skin may be overkill for many seniors; many older adults with subclinical hypothyroidism can taper off levothyroxine safely; and colonoscopy screening after age 75 (especially with limited life expectancy) offers tiny cancer-mortality benefit, suggesting some patients may skip or defer the procedure.

via Daily Kos|

#actinic-keratosis #aging #colonoscopy

health1 month ago•7 min saved

From Mild Cramps to Stage 3: Discovery During Routine Screening

A 45-year-old woman with few symptoms undergoes a colonoscopy after screening age was lowered, discovers a tumor, and is later staged at 3B with lymph node involvement. She undergoes sigmoid resection followed by 12 rounds of chemotherapy, facing delays due to COVID and severe side effects like neuropathy and hair loss, but is now cancer-free with ongoing six-month surveillance. The experience also reshaped her family life (she is now separated) and spurred advocacy and continued therapy.

via Business Insider|

#cancer #chemotherapy #colon-cancer

health1 month ago•5 min saved

Couric's Three Practical Steps to Lower Colon Cancer Risk

Couric notes colon cancer is rising among younger people and outlines three prevention pillars: eat a mostly plant-based diet with minimal ultra-processed foods, exercise regularly (e.g., Pilates, walking, strength training), and stay up to date with screenings (colonoscopy or at-home tests like Cologuard) to detect or prevent cancer. She cites her husband’s death and her own health journey, including a recent colonoscopy that found and removed polyps, to stress the importance of early detection and accessible screening.

via Business Insider|

#colon-cancer #colonoscopy #health

health2 months ago•2 min saved

Exhaustion prompts screening, reveals rectal cancer—woman now cancer-free

A Charlotte woman, 49, who felt exhausted for months underwent a colonoscopy that found a large rectal tumor, diagnosed as Stage 3C cancer; after chemotherapy, radiation and multiple surgeries she is now cancer-free, underscoring the importance of early screening to detect colorectal cancer before it progresses.

via WSOC TV|

#cancer #colonoscopy #colorectal-cancer

health2 months ago•4 min saved

Young Americans Battle Insurance Hurdles as Colon Cancer Rates Rise

Colon cancer rates are rising among people in their 20s and 30s in the US, but adults under 45 often struggle to get insurance coverage for colonoscopies since the ACA mainly covers preventive screenings for those 45 and older. Diagnostic colonoscopies can be denied or costlier, leading to delays and out-of-pocket expenses (one case cited around $2,000). Doctors note referral loops and misattributions of symptoms contribute to late evaluations. Some experts suggest stool tests like Cologuard to expedite access, while the debate about lowering screening age continues due to capacity and disparities. Researchers also advocate broader study of cancer causes (the exposome) to inform policy and screening strategies.

via The Guardian|

#affordable-care-act #colon-cancer #colonoscopy

health2 months ago•9 min saved

Early Screening Urged for High-Risk Groups Before Age 45

Colorectal cancer is increasingly affecting adults under 50, prompting doctors to call for earlier screening in high-risk groups even before 45. Official guidance still starts average-risk screening at 45, but those with strong family history, hereditary syndromes (such as Lynch syndrome, FAP, MAP, Peutz–Jeghers, Juvenile Polyposis), or inflammatory bowel disease may need earlier and/or more frequent colonoscopies. Colonoscopy remains the gold standard for detection and prevention by removing precancerous polyps, while stool tests exist as alternatives but are not ideal for high-risk individuals. Red flags like rectal bleeding, persistent changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, anemia, or unexplained weight loss warrant prompt evaluation regardless of age. Insurance coverage generally aligns with screening guidelines, though diagnostic testing prompted by symptoms can affect costs.

via Fox News|

#colonoscopy #colorectal-cancer #health

health2 months ago•5 min saved

Missed symptoms spark a young mom's colorectal cancer wake-up call

Marisa Peters, a mom in her 30s, experienced rectal bleeding and urgent changes in bowel habits that doctors attributed to postpartum effects. After six years she was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer and underwent extensive treatment; she is now cancer-free and cofounder of the Be Seen nonprofit, advocating for earlier screening as colorectal cancer increasingly affects younger people.

via Business Insider|

#advocacy #colonoscopy #colorectal-cancer

wellbeing2 months ago•17 min saved

Colorectal cancer screening: when to consider it before 45

An oncologist notes that while the guideline is to start colorectal cancer screening at 45, those with risk factors—such as a family history, personal inflammatory bowel disease, hereditary syndromes, or concerning symptoms—should discuss earlier colonoscopy with a clinician, since early detection can improve outcomes.

via The Washington Post|

#cancer #colonoscopy #early-age-screening

health2 months ago•7 min saved

When Blood in the Toilet Went Unnoticed: A Young Mom's Rectal Cancer Diagnosis

A woman in her early 40s misattributed persistent bloody mucus to hemorrhoids during IVF/pregnancy, and it took over a year before a colonoscopy diagnosed stage 3b colorectal cancer. After radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery, she recovered and now emphasizes that colorectal cancer is increasingly seen in people under 50, urging earlier screening and open talk about toilet health.

via Business Insider|

#blood-in-stool #colonoscopy #colorectal-cancer

health2 months ago•6 min saved

Dual Polyp Types Raise Colorectal Cancer Risk, Study Finds

A large Australian study found that patients harboring both adenomas and serrated polyps detected during colonoscopy are up to five times more likely to develop advanced pre-cancerous changes than those with a single polyp type, indicating separate cancer pathways and the need for tailored, more vigilant screening—especially for people over 45 or with a family history.

via SciTechDaily|

#adenomas #colonoscopy #colorectal-cancer

health2 months ago•3 min saved

A 37-Year-Old’s Colon Cancer Diagnosis Sparks Call for Early-Onset Awareness

Allison Solomon was diagnosed with colon cancer at 37 in 2024 and is now in remission after surgery and chemotherapy; she’s advocating with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance as researchers note rising early-onset cases and explore factors like microbiome and birth year; a national survey shows many people are unsure when to start screening, with 45 the current guideline, highlighting the importance of listening to body signals and using colonoscopies to detect and remove premalignant polyps before cancer develops.

via WTOP|

#advocacy #awareness #colonoscopy

health2 months ago•5 min saved

College Student Beats Stage 2 Colon Cancer After Months of Pain and Becomes a Young Advocate

A 20-year-old college student experienced intermittent upper abdominal pain and was initially thought to have an ovarian cyst. After worsening symptoms and imaging, she was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer, underwent surgery, and faced chemotherapy side effects including severe fatigue, neuropathy, and vision loss, leading to a switch to an oral chemo regimen. She completed treatment in mid-2025 and was declared cancer-free; now a senior and intern, she advocates for awareness of colon cancer symptoms in young people and stresses listening to one’s body, with plans for ongoing blood tests and annual colonoscopies.

via Business Insider|

#cancer-awareness #chemotherapy #colon-cancer

health3 months ago•7 min saved

Smartphone Use on the Toilet May Increase Hemorrhoid Risk

A study of 125 adults undergoing routine colonoscopies found smartphone use while on the toilet was linked to a 46 percent higher risk of hemorrhoids after adjusting for age, activity, and fiber intake; phone users also tended to stay on the toilet longer, suggesting extended seated time may raise venous pressure in the rectal area, though more research is needed and clinicians may advise limiting bathroom time and keeping phones out of the bathroom.

via SciTechDaily|

#bathroom-habits #colonoscopy #health

health3 months ago•6 min saved

Colorectal cancer screening moves younger: why 45 is the new starting age and what to expect

The piece explains that colorectal cancer is increasingly affecting younger people, leading to guidelines that now start average-risk screening at age 45 with a colonoscopy every 10 years (or stool tests as alternatives), notes that a family or personal history can trigger earlier testing, and discusses symptoms, costs, and the role of noninvasive tests like Cologuard and FIT. It also highlights that lifestyle factors and access to care influence risk and screening uptake.

via NBC News|

#age-45 #colonoscopy #colorectal-cancer