There are several colon cancer screening options to choose from. Each screening test has different features. Below are screening tests that are available to UCLA Health patients: Colonoscopy, fecal immunochemical test (FIT), stool DNA test, CT colonoscopy (virtual colonoscopy), and flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Tests that visualize your colon
Colonoscopy
Performed every 10 years
- Uses a colonoscope (“scope”) with a light and camera to examine the inside lining of the colon while the patient is sedated
- Considered the gold standard for finding colon cancer or precancerous polyps
- Can prevent colon cancer
- Can detect very early colon cancers
- Requires patients to take a “bowel prep” or bowel cleanse to empty the colon the day before the procedure
- Procedure is performed in a hospital or medical clinic
- Requires sedation (anesthesia) to put the patient to sleep
- Risks include bleeding, infection, and perforation but these are considered minimal with a reported complication rate of less than 1:1000 at UCLA Health.
- If normal, must be repeated in 10 years
CT colonoscopy (virtual colonoscopy)
Performed every 5 years
- Uses a CT scan (CAT scan) to inspect the lining of the colon for polyps
- Requires patients to take a “bowel prep” or bowel cleanse to empty the colon the day before the procedure
- Procedure is performed in a hospital or medical clinic
- Not able to detect very small polyps
- If the test detects polyps or cannot differentiate between what may be a polyp, a colonoscopy must be performed to further investigate and remove the polyps
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Performed every 5 years
- Uses a colonoscope (“scope”) with a light and camera to examine the inside lining the colon while the patient is sedated
- Examines only the bottom portion of the colon
- Can prevent colon cancer
- Can detect very early colon cancers
- Requires patients to take a “bowel prep” or bowel cleanse to empty the colon the day before the procedure
- Can be done in clinic
- Does not require sedation or anesthesia
- If polyps are found, a colonoscopy must be performed
Tests that check your stool
Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
Performed once a year
- Tests the stool for small amounts of human blood that cannot be seen with the naked eye
- Patient can perform the test at home
- Patient uses materials provided to collect a small stool sample
- Kit with small stool sample is mailed to the laboratory at UCLA for processing
- If the result is abnormal (positive for blood), a colonoscopy must be performed to find the source of blood loss
- Very low-risk screening option
- Must be performed each and every year to be most effective
Fecal immunochemical & DNA Test (Cologuard)
Performed every 3 years
- Includes a test for DNA markers associated with colon cancer and for small amounts of human blood that cannot be seen with the naked eye
- Test kit is sent to the patient’s home
- Patient uses materials provided to collect a small stool sample
- Test kit with small stool sample is mailed to the laboratory for processing
- Needs to be performed every three years to be most effective
- If the result is abnormal, a colonoscopy must be performed
Need help deciding which screening test is right for you? Learn more by watching the video below.
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