Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines 2021 -FOBT stool test

colorectal cancer screening guidelines. cancer is common, but preventable. Today I'm Discussing about Colorectal cancer screening protocols, risk factors and symptoms of colorectal cancer. What are the recommended screening guidelines of 2021?

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Colorectal cancer is the number one cancer in Singapore. And over the last three decades, the incidence has increased dramatically.
Based on statistics from the world cancer research fund, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide with 1.8million new cases in 2018.
In this week's video, I will be sharing on the risk factors for colorectal cancer, the symptoms and the screening guidelines.

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Risk factors for colorectal cancer includes
1) age of 50 years or older
2) family history of colorectal cancer
3) family or personal history of genetic intestinal polyp syndromes
4) personal history of previous colon disease like pre-existing polyps or chronic colonic inflammatory conditions.
5) Smoking, drinking and diet high in fat
6) Being overweight or obese
7) Diabetic patients

Most of these cancers are asymptomatic .
However if you experience some of these symptoms, please seek consultation with your doctor.
1) change in bowel habit - having more episodes of constipations or diarrhoea
2) Change in size of your stool
3) Blood in stool or bleeding from rectum
4) unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
5) symptoms of low blood count like feeling tired all the time, giddy, fainting spells.
In one of my earlier videos - I talked about the other causes of blood in stool - if you are interested to watch that, click on the top right of your screen now to access it.

Now, We know that the incidence of colorectal cancer is rising, we also know that most of colorectal cancers are asymptomatic or silent
So the role of screening becomes very very important in detection of early stage cancer.
The earlier we can detect it, the higher the chance of cure.
In fact, in one of my earlier video , I did discuss on the different type of health screening available for different age group.
Click on the top right of your screen now to access it.

The national wide colorectal screening in Singapore starts from the age of 50 for the general population. The US CDC recommends it from age 45 onwards.
Health promotion board Singapore recommends yearly
- fecal immunochemical test ( fit )
Alternatively, we can also do annual stool fecal occult blood test ( FOBT )
Or a colonoscopy once every 5 years.

Here are the test kits for FOBT and FIT.
This is the FIT kit. Its a newer technology and is more specific for blood from the colon. It detects the globin part of human red blood cell and is able to differentiate human blood and animal blood in our diet.
Just remove the cap and insert the tip into your stool, then insert it back into the container.

This is the container for the FOBT. It detects the heme component of blood, so it can also detect blood from the upper part of our digestive system like stomach, and it can possibly detect animal blood in our diet too. So theoretically it may not be as accurate as the FIT kit for colorectal cancer.
So what you do is after your bowel movement, scoop 1-2 scoops of your fecal material and cap it back. Then pass this container back to your doctor.

We would encourage patients to get two separate samples.
If any one of the sample is positive, we would then refer to a specialist for a colonoscopy for evaluation to exclude cancer.
This test is painless and its not invasive at all - so please get it done if you are in the appropriate age group.

Colonoscopy can also be used as a screening tool.
It is a test that has to be done by a specialist under sedation.
It involves inserting a camera up the rear end for direct visualisation of the rectum and the entire length of the colon.
It is both diagnostic and therapeutic - if polyps are seen during the procedure, they can be removed.
If the colonoscopy is a normal one , then nothing needs to be done for the next 5 years.
It is a viable option.
However it is more expensive and more invasive than the two stool tests that I have mentioned.
IN any case, do consult your family doctor to decide which test is suitable for you.

0:00 intro
00:51 Risk factors for colorectal cancer
01:26 Symptoms of colorectal cancer
01:59 colorectal cancer screening methods

#colorectalcancer #colorectalcancerscreening #FIT #FOBT #colonoscopy #SgDrWellness #Vitacarefamily #Fitivate #DrChenYiming #Singaporedoctor #Youtube #Singaporeclinic #Familymedicine #preventionisbetterthancure #Singapore

• Category

  Colorectal Cancer