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New Home Test Helps Detect Colon Cancer Early

People are advised to have periodic colonoscopies to detect colorectal cancer early. This is the second leading cause of cancer death but it can be treated successfully if caught early enough. The problem is that many people either cannot afford a colonoscopy or feel squeamish about undergoing this procedure.

A new study shows that an inexpensive, simple test that can be conducted in the privacy of person’s own bathroom can detect 79% of colorectal cancers. The research was a meta-analysis of 19 studies of the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) stool test. There were twelve different brands of the immunochemical stool test covered by the studies, and all performed well. (Current occult blood stool tests are not nearly as accurate.)

Future studies will need to make a direct comparison between colonoscopy and FIT to see if the FIT is accurate enough to rely on for routine at home testing. It could be a good screening tool for people to use between colonoscopies.

[Annals of Internal Medicine, Feb. 4, 2014]

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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