Colorectal cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. The key to recovering from this aggressive type of cancer is to identify the cancer early. The earlier changes in the colon and rectum are identified, the more effective cancer treatments will be.

Many types of screening tests are used by physicians to check for evidence of colon cancer in their patients. One of the tests that may be offered to you is a stool DNA test. Learn more about this type of screening test to determine if it's the right test for you.

1. You Can Take the Test at Home

Many patients are surprised to learn that they can take a stool DNA test in the comfort of their own homes. Your doctor will provide you with a specialized kit that contains everything you need to collect a stool sample yourself.

A collection bowl that fits onto your toilet will help you collect your stool sample. You will then place the sample into a specimen jar filled with a liquid preservative and attach the included label. Drop the sample off at your doctor's office, and they will send it to the lab for testing.

The fact that a stool DNA test can be completed at home makes it easier for busy patients to regularly screen for colon cancer.

2. Your Stool Really Does Contain DNA

The reason a stool sample can be used as a screening mechanism for colon cancer is the presence of tissue cells within the stool. As waste travels through the colon, cells slough off and are absorbed into the stool. By separating these cells from stool materials, a lab technician can examine the DNA of the cells.

Polyps or adenomas that are indicative of colon cancer tend to have mutated DNA in certain genes. A lab technician can isolate these genes to check for abnormalities in the DNA of the cells that are contained within your stool.

3. Follow-Up Testing Could Be Required

A stool DNA sample can tell your doctor if something is amiss inside your colon, but follow-up testing will be required to determine the severity and location of any polyps or adenomas.

The most common type of follow-up test for a stool DNA screening is a colonoscopy. Your doctor will be able to visually inspect your colon and collect tissue samples that can be biopsied in a lab to determine if colon cancer is present in your body.

Talk to a medical center, such as Gastro Health, to schedule a colon cancer test.