Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, after lung cancer, with about 154,000 new cases detected and 52,000 deaths a year. It is one of the few cancers that is totally preventable if precancerous growths are found and removed. It can also be cured with surgery alone if found early enough. A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that an easily overlooked type of abnormality in the colon is the most likely type of lesion to turn cancerous. Generally, doctors use colonoscopy procedures to search for polyps, abnormal growths that stick out from the lining and can turn into cancer. But another type of growth is much more dangerous, and harder to see because it is flat or depressed and similar in color to healthy tissue.

The two most common hereditary colon cancer syndromes are hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and familial adenomatous polyposis. Genetic testing for colon cancer is often appropriate if you have a family medical history that's strongly suggestive of familial or hereditary colon cancer. The results of a genetic test can indicate which family members have inherited a mutated gene — and thus an increased risk of cancer. This is important information, since it will affect your screening and prevention options, and indicate whether your children or siblings are at risk.

In addition, DNA Direct offers a colon cancer DNA stool screening test for $575 that can be used to supplement other detection methods such as a regular colonoscopy. Early detection is vital with colon cancer. Consult your doctor!