A matter of convenience, money

SANTO ANTÓNIO – Many people postponed all types of medical tests during the COVID-19 pandemic. And while all medical tests are important, screening for colon cancer requires you to think carefully about how to do it.

The wrong choice can add pain to your pocket or even potentially force you to miss a diagnosis.

The choice between tests is wide, but some gastroenterologists want to make sure that you know what you are hiring, both from a medical and financial point of view. As we celebrate Colon Cancer Awareness Month, you may be reminded that it is time to make that choice.

The screening test, Cologuard, is popular for several reasons. Cologuard is a relatively inexpensive home screening test that checks for abnormalities in DNA and blood that would indicate the potential growth of cancer. It does not require pre-treatment for a colonoscopy, which means that there are no unpleasant things like Koolaid to choke to clean your colon or fast the day before.

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The problem is, if you really need precision, it’s not the best choice.

Dr. Peresh Mehta, of Gastroenterology Consultants of San Antonio, wants to ensure that people with a family history of colon cancer or gastrointestinal complications are aware of the limitations.

“This test is about 70% good for finding cancer, but it’s only about 20% good for finding large polyps, which are the ones that are usually pre-cancerous, and those are the ones that you really want to remove with a colonoscopy ”, He affirmed. Said Mehta.

In contrast, a complete colonoscopy is 95% accurate in locating large polyps, which can be biopsied and sent to a laboratory for complete analysis.

If a Cologuard test indicates the presence of polyps, you will probably also need a colonoscopy. This is where the financial question arises. Many insurers only cover the first screening.

“They’re just saying, ‘You have an exam, a mammogram, a Pap test, a colon exam, so if you use it, bad luck. Now you have to pay, ‘”said Mehta.

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Cologuard is also indicated for people at medium risk for colorectal cancer and who do not have problems such as IBD or family history of colorectal cancer.

“The best thing to do is colonoscopy. There is no doubt. Nobody questions this when it is done the right way. You are very protected, almost as well as you can be protected against any cancer, ”said Mehta.

According to the Cologuard website, more than 95% of patients across the country do not pay out-of-pocket expenses, based on eligible patients aged 50-75 years who are at average risk of colon cancer and have no symptoms. . Cologuard is covered by Medicare and Medicare Advantage with no co-payment or deductible for eligible patients aged 50 to 85 years.

The website recommends that patients discover insurance requirements in the event of a positive result for colon cancer.