General FDA approves blood test to screen for colon cancer

[Eric]

I've decided to ask for a colonoscopy since I'm at the 10 year mark. They just scheduled me for 5 months out, had no idea it would take that long.

 

[Cmaier]

I've decided to ask for a colonoscopy since I'm at the 10 year mark. They just scheduled me for 5 months out, had no idea it would take that long.

i need to schedule one. never had one. my doctor gave me a very disappointed look. I am waiting until i find out if i need surgery for another thing first, but I didn’t realize the wait was so long.

 

[Eric]

i need to schedule one. never had one. my doctor gave me a very disappointed look. I am waiting until i find out if i need surgery for another thing first, but I didn’t realize the wait was so long.

I'm guessing it's because they don't see an urgent need, it's mostly a follow up for my diverticulitis issues. They suspected colon cancer with my friend and got him in within a couple of weeks.

 

[Citysnaps]

I also had one recently at the ten year mark (should have gone back at 5 years, but forgot - and later changed my primary care doctor and clinic). Fortunately, my wait was only about a month. It turned out good. Next appt. is in 5 years.

 

[cbum]

If you are worried about the wait, you can always do the Cologuard or the new Cologuard plus molecular test from a stool sample.

 

[Cmaier]

If you are worried about the wait, you can always do the Cologuard or the new Cologuard plus molecular test from a stool sample.

LOL. I still have a year old test kit from them sitting on a shelf. Seemed like a good idea until I read the instructions. No thanks!

 

[Eric]

If you are worried about the wait, you can always do the Cologuard or the new Cologuard plus molecular test from a stool sample.

My cologuard has come back positive but then the GI doctor said with diverticulitis (especially as active as mine is) that it's common to find blood in the stool and to stop taking that test, that we'll rely on the colonoscopy at the 10 year mark which is now so that's why I'm scheduling.

 

[Roller]

I also had one recently at the ten year mark (should have gone back at 5 years, but forgot - and later changed my primary care doctor and clinic). Fortunately, my wait was only about a month. It turned out good. Next appt. is in 5 years.

After I had my last colonoscopy a few years ago I was told I wouldn’t need another unless I developed symptoms. I guess I’m too old to be worth saving, LOL.

 

[Citysnaps]

What gave me pause about the Cologuard option after talking to my primary care doctor, was the 13% false positive rate and 8% false negative rate.

She said if you have a positive result, you'll still need a colonoscopy to snare the polyp and have it biopsied by a lab. And having some unnecessary worrying while waiting for the colonoscopy and following biopsy.

If instead Cologuard returns a negative result, with an 8% false negative rate, you may end up worrying if you're among the unlucky 8% having cancer. Or... you may believe everything is OK, and find out later you have a serious case of cancer with no options available.

It's been a six months from having the above conversation, so my recollection might not be quite right.

 

[Eric]

What gave me pause about the Cologuard option after talking to my primary care doctor, was the 13% false positive rate and 8% false negative rate.

She said if you have a positive result, you'll still need a colonoscopy to snare the polyp and have it biopsied by a lab. And having some unnecessary worrying while waiting for the colonoscopy and following biopsy.

If instead Cologuard returns a negative result, with an 8% false negative rate, you may end up worrying if you're among the 8% having cancer.

It's been a six months from having the above conversation, so my recollection of the conversation might not be quite right.

For me there's always been traces of blood due to the diverticulitis, it's what caused me to get the first colonoscopy almost 10 years ago and it came up totally clean with no polyps but they did confirm the diverticulitis diagnosis. Now it's just a matter of following up.

 

[cbum]

common to find blood in the stool

Just to clarify, the Cologuard doesn't check for blood, it checks for Colorectal cancer-specific molecular DNA markers.
Detecting occult blood is a much older and less sensitive & specific screening method.
The newer Cologuard plus has a Sensitivity/Specificity of 95%/94% in average risk populations, which is about the same as Colonoscopy.
The advantage of Colonoscopy is that if you see something, you can biopsy it.
The advantage of the molecular test is that it is non-invasive and do it yourself, and tells you if you can skip the Colonoscopy for a few years. And yes, you have to deal with your poop - sorry...

 

[Eric]

Just to clarify, the Cologuard doesn't check for blood, it checks for Colorectal cancer-specific molecular DNA markers.
Detecting occult blood is a much older and less sensitive & specific screening method.
The newer Cologuard plus has a Sensitivity/Specificity of 95%/94% in average risk populations, which is about the same as Colonoscopy.
The advantage of Colonoscopy is that if you see something, you can biopsy it.
The advantage of the molecular test is that it is non-invasive and do it yourself, and tells you if you can skip the Colonoscopy for a few years. And yes, you have to deal with your poop - sorry...

Just went back and looked and I misspoke, it was a fecal occult test (FIT). I was then referred to the GI doctor who said to stop taking them because my condition will likely show it positive every time.