3. Test. Fecal occult blood test
What is it? A chemical test that detects occult (“hidden”) blood in your feces, which can be a sign of cancer.
How do I prepare? Smear a sample of your own stool on special test paper for 3 days in a row.
What’s it good for? Not all cancers bleed, so the test is by no means definitive. Aspirin can produce a false positive.
Any “cool” factor? Low. Litmus paper smeared with during is not anything to carry around in your wallet.
How much will it costs? Between $10 and $25, usually covered by insurance. Should be done once a year, in conjunction with a sigmoidoscopy.
4. Test. Capsule endoscopy
What is it? The M2A camera pill transmits video of all 20 feet of your small intestine. Used to diagnose Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and intestinal polyps.
How do I prepare? Fasting beforehand. While the pill makes its trek, you wear a 3-pound receiving device that relays images from your small intestine. No side effects, and you’ll pass the pill in feces.
What’s it good for? The gutcam is 70 percent more effective at diagnosing problems in the small intestine than the traditional endoscope. Not yet proven beyond the small intestine.
Any “cool” factor? Triple bonus: Cool flashing gutcam. Batman-style utility belt. Death Star tunnel-vision video f your small intestine. Two thumbs way up!
How much will it costs? $1,000. Some insurance carriers may cover it. The test is most often prescribed to diagnose unexplained bleeding in the intestine.
What is it? A chemical test that detects occult (“hidden”) blood in your feces, which can be a sign of cancer.
How do I prepare? Smear a sample of your own stool on special test paper for 3 days in a row.
What’s it good for? Not all cancers bleed, so the test is by no means definitive. Aspirin can produce a false positive.
Any “cool” factor? Low. Litmus paper smeared with during is not anything to carry around in your wallet.
How much will it costs? Between $10 and $25, usually covered by insurance. Should be done once a year, in conjunction with a sigmoidoscopy.
4. Test. Capsule endoscopy
What is it? The M2A camera pill transmits video of all 20 feet of your small intestine. Used to diagnose Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and intestinal polyps.
How do I prepare? Fasting beforehand. While the pill makes its trek, you wear a 3-pound receiving device that relays images from your small intestine. No side effects, and you’ll pass the pill in feces.
What’s it good for? The gutcam is 70 percent more effective at diagnosing problems in the small intestine than the traditional endoscope. Not yet proven beyond the small intestine.
Any “cool” factor? Triple bonus: Cool flashing gutcam. Batman-style utility belt. Death Star tunnel-vision video f your small intestine. Two thumbs way up!
How much will it costs? $1,000. Some insurance carriers may cover it. The test is most often prescribed to diagnose unexplained bleeding in the intestine.
5. Test. Virtual colonoscopy
What is it? As in a standard colonoscopy, the colon is inflated. Images are taken with CT scans, not a colon snake. The bad news: You’re awake the whole time.
How do I prepare? Same as for a standard colonoscopy. Same flatulence afterward, as well.
What’s it good for? According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, it’s about ½ to 1/3 as accurate in spotting suspicious polyps, if it finds one, they snake ‘n’ snip, anyway.
Any “cool” factor? “Virtual” sounds cool, but the reality is more pain and suffering than with a standard colonoscopy, and a less accurate scan for polyps.
How much will it costs? $950.
What is it? As in a standard colonoscopy, the colon is inflated. Images are taken with CT scans, not a colon snake. The bad news: You’re awake the whole time.
How do I prepare? Same as for a standard colonoscopy. Same flatulence afterward, as well.
What’s it good for? According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, it’s about ½ to 1/3 as accurate in spotting suspicious polyps, if it finds one, they snake ‘n’ snip, anyway.
Any “cool” factor? “Virtual” sounds cool, but the reality is more pain and suffering than with a standard colonoscopy, and a less accurate scan for polyps.
How much will it costs? $950.
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