| Q: |
What is colorectal cancer? |
| A: |
Colorectal cancer (often simply called colon cancer) develops in the digestive tract.
(The digestive tract is also called the gastrointestinal, or GI, tract). This part of your body processes the food you
eat and gets rid of solid waste matter. Polyps, or growths of tissue, sometimes form on the inside wall of the colon and
rectum. Although these polyps start out as non-cancerous, they can develop into cancer over time. |
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| Q: |
How common is colorectal cancer? |
| A: |
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer both in men and women.1
Over 56,000 Americans die from colorectal cancer every year.1 |
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| Q: |
What is meant by "screening?" Why is it important? |
| A: |
In the case of colorectal cancer, screening means testing for blood in the stool. Blood in
the stool can be caused by polyps (growths of tissue) or early-stage cancer in the colon or rectum. A non-cancerous polyp
can develop into colorectal cancer over time. |
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| However, a positive result from a screening test does not tell a doctor if you have cancer—it only tells the doctor that
you have blood in your stool. Many conditions, such as hemorrhoids or stomach ulcers, could be the cause of a positive result.
A positive result alerts your doctor to proceed with diagnostic testing that will be used to pinpoint the cause of the blood
in the stool and determine what treatment may be needed. |
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| Since early-stage colorectal cancer usually causes no symptoms, screening is often the only indicator
that you may have polyps that could be cancerous (or could become cancerous over time). When detected early, over 90% of colorectal cancers
can be treated and cured.1 |
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| Q: |
How do I know if I should be screened? |
| A: |
The American Cancer Society recommends that beginning at age 50, both men and women
should be screened for colorectal cancer.2 People with a personal or family history of colorectal cancer
or polyps or a personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease may benefit from earlier or more frequent screening
and should talk to their doctor.2 |
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Click here for more information on screening options. |
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| Q: |
My doctor has asked me to provide stool samples before, but it was very
inconvenient. Does the Clearview ULTRA FOB Test make it easier for me? |
| A: |
Yes. Clearview ULTRA FOB only requires one fecal occult blood (FOB) sample—or stool sample—as opposed to
the three samples you may have had to provide in the past. Plus, Clearview ULTRA FOB doesn't require you to change your diet in any way
(other tests have strict dietary restrictions, such as no red meat for 3 days and vitamin and vegetable restrictions). With Clearview
ULTRA FOB, all you have to do is collect a single sample, on any day that it's convenient for you. |
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Click here for more information on how to collect
a stool sample for screening with Clearview ULTRA FOB. |
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| Q: |
How long do I have to wait for results once I provide my
doctor with a sample? |
| A: |
This depends on many factors, including whether you mail your sample to your doctor or take
it with you to your doctor's office. However, once your doctor has your sample, the Clearview ULTRA FOB Test can provide positive
results in as little as 1 minute, and negative results in as little as 5 minutes. Some patients even receive results before they
leave the doctor's office. |
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References
- American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2004. Available at:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/STT/stt_0.asp.
Accessed November 29, 2004.
- Smith RA, Cokkinides V, Eyre HJ. American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer, 2003.
CA Cancer J Clin. 2003;53:27-43.
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