What’s a stool DNA take a look at?

Many individuals with colon most cancers expertise no signs within the early phases of the illness. With time, although, the most cancers cells can develop to invade and destroy regular tissue close by. And cancerous cells can journey to different components of the physique to type deposits there, referred to as metastasis.

Greater than 106,000 new circumstances of colon most cancers might be recognized within the U.S. in 2022, in line with the American Most cancers Society.

A stool DNA take a look at makes use of a stool pattern to search for indicators of colon most cancers. It is one possibility for colon most cancers screening. The take a look at checks for adjustments within the cells’ genetic materials, referred to as the DNA. Sure DNA adjustments are an indication that most cancers is current or that it would occur sooner or later. The stool DNA take a look at additionally appears to be like for hidden blood within the stool.

Stool DNA take a look at outcomes might embody:

• Adverse outcome: A take a look at is taken into account damaging if DNA adjustments and indicators of blood should not discovered within the stool. Your well being care skilled might advocate you repeat the take a look at in three years.
• Constructive outcome: A take a look at is taken into account constructive if DNA adjustments or indicators of blood are discovered within the stool pattern. Your well being care skilled might advocate extra testing to search for most cancers or polyps within the colon. Normally that is with a colonoscopy.

Individuals with a mean danger of colon most cancers ought to take into account colon most cancers screening round age 45, in line with the U.S. Preventive Providers Activity Pressure. However individuals with an elevated danger, equivalent to these with a household historical past of colon most cancers, ought to take into account screening sooner. How lengthy you need to proceed common colon most cancers screening will rely in your age and whether or not your screenings have been damaging all through.