Health Plan of San Joaquin | Focus Your Health | Spring 2019

Focus Your Health 3 March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: Know your screening options when the cancer is diagnosed early. That’s where screening comes in. It can save lives in two ways:  1 Screening helps your doctor find colorectal cancer early. When cancer starts to spread, Have you been checked for colorectal cancer? If you’re a middle-aged adult, it could save your life. Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of death in the U.S. It may not cause any symptoms at first, but treatment works best it can become hard to treat.  2 Some colorectal screenings can help prevent cancer. How? These tests help your doctor find and remove noncancerous growths (polyps) in the colon before they might develop into cancer. HealthReach 1110 Fecal occult blood test. This test looks for invisible blood in a stool sample. You collect the sample at home and send it to the lab. The right test for you Your doctor can help you decide when and how often to get screened for colorectal cancer. It depends on your age and your health history. He or she can also tell you more about the different types of tests: Talk to your doctor about colorectal screening options. It could save your life. If you don’t have a doctor yet, find one near you by going to HPSJ’s website at hpsj.com/ find-a-doctor and find the right doctor for you! Sources: National Cancer Institute; U.S. Preventive Services Task Force DNA stool test. This test checks DNA in stool for signs of cancerous changes. A stool sample is collected at home and tested in the lab. Sigmoidoscopy. This test checks the rectum and lower part of the large intestine (colon) for polyps or cancer. A thin, lighted tube is inserted in the rectum and used to view the rectum and colon. During the test, any polyps or abnormal areas that are found may be checked or removed. Colonoscopy. This test examines the rectum and the entire colon. It also uses a lighted tube. The tool can also be used to remove polyps or other tissue.