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A so-called occult blood test is used to prevent colorectal cancer.

I strictly recommend people who are at high risk of colorectal cancer due to genetic predisposition i.e. their closest relatives had a history of colorectal cancer, to make a fecal occult blood test (FOBT). People over the age of 40 are at risk group, especially if there is a hereditary factor. In case the hereditary factor is absent, the test should be performed on the persons over 50 years of age. It is definitely more desirable to perform the screening test in polyclinics.

The Occult Blood Test is a pre-stage measure, it is quite affordable and easy to perform. The test is positive in presence of neoplasms as well as in hemorrhoids and fissure. If the result is positive, a colonoscopy is mandatory. If polyps are found, they are removed by endoscopic intervention.
Colon polyps are benign tumors which are inclined to malignization. Thus, it is necessary to carry out preventive intervention. The risks are higher, if the diagnosis of neoplasm or polyp is delayed and it is accompanied with complications. In case there is bleeding or a risk of possible delayed bleeding after removal, the patient should be under inpatient control. In all other cases, the polypectomy is performed on an outpatient basis.

The surgery doesn’t cause any difficulties to the patient, neither requires any nursing or bed rest in postoperative period. The condition of the patient is the same as after a scheduled colonoscopy, and the patient can go home 15-20 minutes after the intervention, as after the colonoscopy.

After the procedure, patients are monitored every 3 years.
In conclusion: endoscopic intervention may completely prevent the development of the tumor in the future.

Dr. Tevos Sargsyan, endoscopist at ՛՛Nairi՛՛ Medical Center