Colon Cancer: Symptoms, Risk Factors & How To Test At Home

Colon Cancer Screening Saves Lives: As more people under 50 are diagnosed with colon cancer, guidelines recommend start regular screening at age 45.

What is colon cancer, who is at risk, and why it’s crucial to start regular screening?

Recent news articles describing the stories of relatively young people, who tested positive for colon cancer, are raising awareness of colorectal cancer and the importance of early detection.

Such is the story of the 48-year-old woman from Hawaii, which detected she was positive for colorectal cancer thanks to LetsGetChecked at-home colon cancer screening test. 

These stories emphasize that most people with colon cancer experience no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Therefore, regular screening tests help detect and prevent colon cancer keep spreading.

Colon cancer is also known as colorectal cancer. Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. When cancer starts in the colon or rectum, it is called colorectal cancer.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, more than 130,000 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2020 in the United States alone. Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in men and the second in women.

The good news is that healthy lifestyle habits and screening can help lower your risk of developing this disease and improve your overall quality of life and health. 

Despite the fact that colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death, you can prevent and identify it at its earliest stages with a colorectal screening.

According to the CDC, “Survival is higher when colorectal cancer is found before it spreads to other parts of the body. Screening tests can prevent colorectal cancer or find it early, when treatment works best.“

About Colon Cancer Screening Test 

A colon cancer screening test may be used to detect blood in the stool, which can indicate cancerous or precancerous growths in the colon.

Here we talk you through everything you need to know about colon cancer screening tests, as well as whether or not you should consider taking a colon cancer test. 

The most common at-home colon cancer screening tests are called fecal immunochemical tests, or FIT tests. 

FIT tests are used to identify the presence of blood in the stool. Blood in the stool is a symptom of colon cancer. It is not always visible to the naked eye, but identifying it may help you to indicate cancerous or precancerous cells in the body.

It’s important to note from the offset that a FIT test won’t offer a definitive diagnosis, rather it will help to detect if further screening for colon cancer (such as a colonoscopy) is required.

Colon Cancer Risk factors, Should You Test Yourself?

The American Cancer Society recommends that people commence regular screening at the age of 45, or younger if they have a family history of colon cancer.

You should especially consider colon cancer screening testing, and potentially at a younger age if:

• You have a family history of colon cancer
• You are experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms
• You have a family or personal history of benign tumors (adenomas)
• You have undergone radiation therapy
• You have Crohn’s disease
• You have ulcerative colitis
• You have Lynch syndrome/HNPCC or FAP
• You have type 2 diabetes

Those who are currently living with inflammatory colon diseases (IBD) are at an increased risk of developing colon cancer. However, it is also important to remember that you are at an increased risk of receiving a positive result using an FIT test due to inflammation and/or bleeding in the colon.

What Are The Risk Factors For Colon Cancer?

Some of the most common risk factors of colon cancer include:

• Older age. Colon cancer is most likely to affect those over 50.
• African-American race. African-Americans have a greater risk of colon cancer.
• A personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps. Those who have had colon cancer or noncancerous colon polyps are at a greater risk.
• Inflammatory intestinal conditions. Chronic inflammatory diseases increase the risk of colon cancer.
• Inherited syndromes that increase colon cancer risk. Genetics are responsible for a small number of colon cancer cases.
• Family history of colon cancer. You’re more likely to develop colon cancer if you have a blood relative who has had the disease.
• Low-fiber, high-fat diet. Colon cancer and rectal cancer has been associated with the Western diet, which is low in fiber and high in fat and calories.
• A sedentary lifestyle. People who are inactive are more likely to develop colon cancer.
• Diabetes. People with diabetes or insulin resistance have an increased risk of colon cancer.
• Obesity. People who are obese have an increased risk of colon cancer
• Smoking. People who smoke may have an increased risk of colon cancer.
• Alcohol. Heavy use of alcohol increases your risk of colon cancer.
• Radiation therapy for cancer. Radiation therapy directed at the abdomen to treat previous cancers increases the risk of colon cancer.

Remember: according to the CDC, “Regular screening, beginning at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer and finding it early.”

Can You Take A Colon Cancer Screening Test From Home?

LetsGetChecked provides an easy to use colon cancer screening test which can be used from the comfort of home.

The LetsGetChecked at home colon cancer screening test is a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) which is used to detect blood in the stool, which may indicate the presence of cancerous or precancerous growths in the colon.

The LetsGetChecked home colon cancer screening test can help identify the presence of cancerous or precancerous growths in the colon by detecting blood that is invisible to the naked eye. This test detects human hemoglobin in the stool, and so other sources of blood, such as from your diet will not cause a positive result.

The Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) does not determine if you have colon cancer. It indicates that you require further assessment by your physician and you may require further testing in the form of a colonoscopy.

***Exclusive Offer: Save 25% on LetsGetChecked Colon Cancer Screening Test with coupon code “GET25” ***

How Does At Home Colon Cancer Screening Test Work?

1. Collect Your Sample - Activate your test and collect your sample in the morning. Return your sample on the same day, using the prepaid shipping label provided.
2. Review Accurate Results - Once your sample arrives in the laboratory, confidential results will be available from your secure online account within 2 to 5 days.
3. Get Medical Support - LetsGetChecked provides a dedicated team of nurses who are available 24/7 and will call you to explain your results.

What Are The Symptoms Of Colon Cancer? 

More often than not, colon cancer does not have any symptoms. 

According to the CDC, “colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first”.

In instances where symptoms are present, they may include: 

• Blood in the stool 
• Rectal bleeding 
• Unexplained pain in the stomach 
• Diarrhea
• Constipation 
• Loose stools 
• A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely
• Weakness or fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss

Colon cancer begins and affects the large intestine (colon). It can occur at any age, however, it typically affects older adults, and those over the age of 45 accordingly.

Colon cancer generally starts as a small clump of non-cancerous or benign cells. Over time the small clumps of cells, known as polyps may grow into a bigger cluster of cells known as colon cancer. 

Regular screening tests help prevent colon cancer by identifying polyps early on. If they are diagnosed and removed in the early stages, most patients will go on not to experience further symptoms. 

On the other hand, if early detection does not occur and colon cancer develops, many treatments are available to help control it, including surgery, radiation therapy and drug treatments, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Colon cancer screening tests are also sometimes referred to as “colorectal tests” or “bowel tests”. Colon cancer is sometimes called colorectal cancer, which is a term that combines colon cancer and rectal cancer, which begins in the rectum. 

Again, it is important to note that most people with colon cancer experience no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.

When symptoms appear, they’ll likely vary, depending on the cancer’s size and location in your large intestine. Due to the very subtle nature of the disease, it is very important to ensure that you undergo regular screening, particularly if you have a family history of the disease. 

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