Blood Drug Testing

Are occult blood tests for Colon Cancer really effective?

Since the NHS began mass screening by means of this test is it an efficient way to detect and treat colorectal cancers before they've got a grip, or does it mostly detect established cancers? would it be better to have a biannual colonoscopy as I understand happens in France?

Public Comments

1. Hi Proud Walker, They are accurate and help in diagnosing colon cancer earlier than other tests. Early diagnosis is equal to cheaper and more effective treatment and management.
2. colonoscopies are neither comfortable nor benign and usually take up a whole day of your valuable time ( personal experience ). occult blood tests are a little awkward but far less invasive and safer as an early screening method. to say nothing of their being more economical for all concerned.
3. They do not treat a thing and they are not the most efficient way of detecting cancer, but they are better than not doing them. In the US screening colonoscopies start at age 50, unless you are a high risk, and continue every 5 years unless the doctor believes you should have them at shorter intervals.
4. A colonoscopy will find the polyps and get them removed before they have a chance to turn into a tumor mass. To me that seems a heck of a lot more effective than until waiting for a full blown tumor that starts bleeding. I had colon cancer, the occult blood test probably helped save my life for once I knew there was blood in my stool then my goal became to find WHAT was the cause. What was bleeding. To make a long story short, I eventually had a colonoscopy and a large tumor, the size of a baseball or small apple according to my physicians, was found (I was only 45 years old and not in line for any routine colonoscopy but sickness symptoms kept me searching for what was the matter with me). I asked about the bleeding and was told that the tumor ulcerated and the blood came from that. So, I believe it mostly detects established cancers. A person would not need a biannual colonoscopy, that is way too often. If you have one and you are "clean" then I believe you can go at least 3 to 5 years without having to do it again (only because it takes a while for a polyp to form). Having had colon cancer, I had one one year after I had surgery, now I am going 2 years and will have another one next summer. After that, if all looks good I suspect I will be able to go longer between them. I hope this info helps you.
5. It caught a tumour with my Father-in-Law. He hadn't (and still doesn't) show any symptoms, so it's good for detecting things that you otherwise wouldn't spot. Once you notice symptoms, it is probably quite advanced and may have spread, so any test (whether it is an occult blood test or regular examination) significantly improves your chances of a successful outcome. That's the testing, anyway. The treatment you get might differ. We spent weeks chasing up for an appointment, getting told by people that a letter was coming "this week", only to eventually find out a referral letter had been sitting in a secretary's inbox for five weeks. Fortunately the radiotherapy was sorted out in time for the operation, otherwise that would have had to have been cancelled and rescheduled. The screening I think is a great idea, they just need to sort out the follow up procedures a bit better.