Annual Test Recommended in Addition to Colonoscopy

A large percentage of people are interested in getting regular screening for colorectal cancer. That's because colon cancer is one of the major reasons that people die from cancer in America and throughout the rest of the world. Colon cancer screening can identify that cancer before it becomes fatal. Traditionally the colonscopy (and then the virtual colonoscopy) was used to diagnose colon cancer in its early stages. The colonoscopy remains important to colon cancer screening but studies indicate that it should be supplemented with an annual fecal test. With the use of the fecal immunochemical test (FIT), there is a much better chance of detecting both cancerous and precancerous lesions at an early enough date to prevent problems with colon cancer. Studies showed that precancerous lesions could be detected up to a year-and-a-half earlier with the FIT test than with the coloscopy alone and that cancerous lesions were detectable over two years earlier. The colonoscopy is generally not recommended to be done every year. In the years between the screening that is done for colon cancer this way, it is advisable to consider getting the annual FIT test. It's best to cover all your bases! Question of the Day: Is the FIT test necessary if you get a colonoscopy every five years as recommended?