Various screening options are available to help prevent or identify bowel cancer in its earliest stages.
Methods like flexible sigmoidoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, double contrast barium enema, and faecal occult blood tests can detect the presence of cancer cells. Still, a positive result means that further investigations are needed. So, while these screening techniques are valuable, they are often inconclusive.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy
A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that examines the lower part of your large intestine. A thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end is inserted into your rectum and guided into your colon. The specialist can then identify any abnormalities.
As this screening only examines the lower part of your large intestine, the procedure is over much quicker and can feel less invasive.
You may benefit from a flexible sigmoidoscopy if you are over 45 and have risk factors for colon cancer, such as a family history of the disease.
Virtual colonoscopy
A virtual colonoscopy is a non-invasive imaging technique that can examine your colon and rectum for signs of bowel cancer. During this screening, a CT scanner will create 3D images of your colon. No camera is inserted into your rectum as the machine uses X-rays to generate images instead.
However, if abnormalities are detected, you may still need a colonoscopy afterwards for further examination and treatment.
Colonoscopies: the gold standard for private bowel cancer screening
A colonoscopy is considered the gold standard in bowel cancer screening. Research has shown the superiority of a colonoscopy over other screening tests, with one bowel cancer incidence prevented for every 28 colonoscopies performed.
A thorough colonoscopy offers:
Prevention: Your doctor can give you an ‘all-clear’ on the day if they find no polyps or adenomas (benign tumours) during the colonoscopy.
Treatment: Your doctor can usually remove small polyps during the colonoscopy so they will not develop into cancer.
Diagnosis: If your doctor finds any suspicious growths, they will take a biopsy sample and send this immediately to the lab for further testing.
Regular colonoscopies should begin at 45 for people with an average risk of developing bowel cancer. If you have a family history of polyps or bowel cancer, then doctors may advise you to get your first colonoscopy at age 40 or earlier.
Your medical history and risk factors will determine the frequency of screening tests. After your first bowel cancer screening, it should be repeated every one to ten years.
At OneWelbeck Digestive Health, our highly experienced bowel cancer specialists perform various procedures within comfortable settings. They can advise you on which screening methods are right for you.
Alternatives to imaging screening tests: faecal immunochemical test (FIT)
While a colonoscopy is the gold standard for preventative screening, we understand that some might be hesitant about booking this procedure. The good news is that FITs are an alternative, at-home option suitable for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.
Blood in your stool may indicate abnormalities in the bowel. So, specialists can identify possible signs of bowel disease in your stool sample. If a FIT result is positive, we will refer you for further investigation by colonoscopy.
Our at-home FIT kit costs £60. You can order one by calling 020 3653 2009 or emailing clinical.digestivehealth@onewelbeck.com.
