If your doctor determined you are at average risk for colon cancer, there are multiple screening tests available to you. Please see the chart below.
| Test | Colonoscopy | CT Colonography | FITc | FIT-DNA (Cologuard®) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How the test works | While patient is sedated, a specialist inserts a colonoscope, a thin, flexible, lighted tube instrument, into the rectum to examine the colon. | A specialized CT scan used to evaluate the lining of the colon for growths or polyps. | This test checks for hidden blood in the stool. | This test checks stool for blood and certain DNA markers that are associated with colorectal cancer and polyps. |
| Purpose | Directly visualizes the colon | Examines the colon lining for polyps | Identifies blood in the stool | Identifies blood and abnormal DNA in the stool |
| Advantages | Screening and diagnostic follow-up can be performed during the same exam. Polyp removal may prevent cancer development. |
Less invasive than a colonoscopy. No sedation is required. |
No bowel prep, sedation or hospital visit required. Test done at home. |
No bowel prep, sedation or hospital visit required. Test done at home. Covered by most commercial insurances, Medicare and CT Medicaid. Testing kit mailed from Cologuard® directly to the patient’s home. |
| Disadvantages | Requires sedation and bowel prep. Requires someone to accompany the patient to and from the exam. Requires one day off work for the procedure. |
Can miss polyps, particularly smaller ones. Requires bowel prep. Requires colon insufflation. Requires colonoscopy for an abnormal test result. |
Requires colonoscopy for an abnormal test result. Must submit stool sample for lab testing. Not as accurate as colonoscopy or CT colonography. Yearly screening is needed even if results are normal. |
Requires colonoscopy for an abnormal test result. Must submit stool sample for lab testing. Not as accurate as colonoscopy or CT colonography. |
| Rescreen interval (if normal results) |
10 years | 5 years | 1 year | 3 years |
