what are the varies way to check colon cancer?

my grandmom, my dad, my dad's brother all have colon cancer
I was told that i should do regular checkup on the colon to be sure.

do you know of all the different ways to do colon cancer checkup?

I hope to learn a less in intrusive , less painful way.

any advise?

[jdwithhcv]

Hi and welcome.  Colonoscopy is the BEST way to screen for colon cancer and I urge you to have one as soon as you can.  It is "invasive" as you say, but not painful or anything, and it can save your life.  You sleep through the whole exam and the prep the day before is annoying but that is nothing compared to having cancer.

My dad, grandmother and great-grandfather all had colon cancer.  I did not know this at the time I was diagnosed, but did a bit of research afterward and discovered it.  With my family history I should have been screened for colon cancer early.  How old was your dad when he was diagnosed?  Whatever his age was, you should start having regular colonoscopy at least 10 years younger than his age at diagnosis.

I was 46 when I went for colonoscopy because I had rectal bleeding and a lot of pain.  I was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer (almost stage 4) and had to undergo a lot of treatment (chemo and radiation, then surgery, then more chemo, then more surgery) and if I had been screened early I might have been spared all of that.


Start with a fecal occult blood test (FOB) and a colonoscopy if it is indicated.  It is not bad and it can save your life.  Colon cancer can be prevented by early screening,  When cancer is detected early it responds very well to treatment.  I urge you not to wait - get tested.  With your family history you are at high risk

Please please please, get the test.  And post again to let me know that you did.  I will be worried about you til you do.

jd

[B_Shel20]

I see on your profile that your 43. I would get one as soon as you can. You are due for one at 50 anyway. Add on the fact you have a family history of it, and it would be wise to do one this year for sure.

[scheungyyz]

thanks both. I will get it arranged.

btw, I was watching BBC Knowledge the other day; I learn about this new (not so new, since 2006) thing called Gene Therapy to cure cancer.  It is apparent that it has been quite successful, it is a better way than Chemotherapy.

well, just to share and something to keep in mind

shirl

[bgb1976]

hi I have been posting for a while, for I have had blood in stool for over 2 years. I finally went for colonoscopy this past tuesday and it was painless. They did great. I had a polyp removed. I just found out yesterday it was a adenoma polyp which is quite rare for me (im only 33). They said it had been there for about 2 or more years. If left alone they can turn into cancer, so I will never put off anything like this again... Please go and get checked. It really isn't bad at all, I had a really great dr who did mine. Please keep us informed.