Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, affecting men and women equally. Age, meat consumption, constipation, and genetics are all risk factors for colon cancer. Colon cancer arises from intestinal polyps, or growths, that enlarge continuously over time. Some polyps will never turn into cancer, but others will. The only way to know if a polyp is cancerous is to remove and biopsy them during a colonoscopy.
Currently, the only screening test available for colon cancer is the colonoscopy – a procedure that involves sedation. A new blood test, called CCSA-2 (colon cancer specific antigen 2), is showing promising results in early research. It seems that this protein is found in the blood of those individuals with high risk polyps and absent in those with low risk polyps. Results have shown that, overall, the test has a 91% specificity, meaning that 9% of cancers were missed by the test.
The current recommendation of waiting every 10 years for a colonoscopy may be too long to wait for those individuals who develop fast-growing colon cancers. Even with it's 9% miss rate, a CCSA-2 blood test run every year may catch more cancers and save more lives than colonoscopy alone.
Contact ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine to learn more about this exciting new screening test for colon cancer. Direct access (cash-pay) testing is available.
ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.
The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.
Labels: blood test, cancer screening, cash-pay labs, colon cancer, colon health, colonoscopy, direct access labs, naturopathic medicine
