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Kansas City Colon Cancer Screening Procedure

Colon Cancer Screening

Your Trusted Double - Board Certified Gastroenterologist

Screening Can Prevent Colon Cancer

Colon cancer (also referred to as colorectal cancer) is preventable and curable, but in the beginning there are no symptoms. If colon cancer is caught in its earliest stages, it can be cured 90% to 100% of the time.

Colorectal cancer can be prevented through proper diet and the removal of pre-cancerous growths, called polyps.

However, to prevent this disease or discover it in its earliest stages, patients need to participate in the screening process. There are several methods to screen for colon cancer. Your physician will assist you in determining which of these the best.

What Screening Tests Are Available?

We recommend three screening tests. Talk to our medical staff about which is right for you and how often you should be tested:

Fecal Occult Blood Test or Stool Test: This take-home test checks for occult (hidden) blood in the stool, which may indicate the presence of polyps. This test should be done every year.
Colonoscopy: The colonoscopy is considered to be the “gold standard,” which means that it is the most effective screening test for colorectal cancer. A long, flexible tube with a tiny camera is used to examine the inside of the colon and rectum. This enables the practitioner to find and remove polyps or cancer. This test is usually done every 10 years.
A DNA based non-evasive freezing test: This is not covered by most insurances and averages $500 in cost. A positive test requires that a colonoscopy be performed.

The following organizations recommend that routine colonoscopy screenings are done in all asymptomatic people starting at the age of 45.

•    American Cancer Society (ACS)
•    U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)
•    American College of Physicians (ACP)
•    American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)
•    National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)

Get Screened

Patients who are at average risk for colon cancer are characterized by the following:

No family history of colon cancer.
Lack of symptoms such as: no change in bowel habits, no evidence of bleeding from the rectum, no abdominal pain, and an absence of thinning regarding the diameter of the stool.
Tests for hidden blood in the stool are negative (fecal occult blood test).
Rectal exam shows no masses.

For an average risk patient, a screening colonoscopy is recommended after the age of 45. This is an examination of the colon with a videoscope so the physician can see any abnormalities, such as a polyp or a cancerous mass. At the time of the colonoscopy, polyps can be removed to prevent a cancer from developing.

If a person is in a high-risk category for colon cancer, then a colonoscopy may be performed sooner than age 45. Any person with a first degree relative who has had colon cancer (i.e. parent, sibling) should have a colonoscopy approximately ten years prior to the age of diagnosis of that particular relative.

Will Insurance Pay For a Colonoscopies?

Medicare and many insurance plans are now required to cover the cost of a colonoscopy if you are aged 50+, or if risk factors indicate a need for intervention. Contact Midwest GI Heath at 816-836-2200 to find out more about pricing and insurance coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What Our Patients Say About Us

At Midwest GI Health we are proud to share our patient referrals from Healthgrades, Vitals, Google and Facebook. Please take some time to see how pleased our patients are with our professionalism and quality of care.

 5/5

After years and years of stomach issues and having the same simple tests done with no results, I saw Dr. Taormina and he’s actually trying to help figure it all out, new tests…

 5/5

The staff was very professional and friendly. The exam was explained by a nurse and the Anesthesiologist then came in to explain what she was going to do. Dr Taormina came…

 5/5

The facility is small enough you don’t feel like a number and big enough you know they have what they need in case of an emergency. Dr Taormina is easy to talk to and answers all questions. Explains everything well, easy to understand. The group of nurses are also great!