Colon Cancer Screening in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is colon cancer screening?
Colon cancer screening is a planned check of the large bowel in people who feel perfectly well. Its purpose is twofold: to find cancer at an early, more treatable stage, and, more importantly, to find and remove the small growths called polyps from which most bowel cancers slowly develop.
That second aim is what makes bowel screening unusual among cancer checks. Most screening tests look for a disease that is already there. Bowel screening can remove the forerunner of the disease before it ever becomes cancer. A polyp that is taken out today is one that has no chance to change over the following years.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, screening starts with a consultation with the gastroenterologist, who looks at your age, family history and health, and recommends the test that fits your level of risk.
Who needs it
Screening is for people with no bowel symptoms. The usual groups are:
- Average risk: adults from around age 45 to 50, with no personal or family history of bowel cancer or polyps
- Family history: a parent, brother, sister or child diagnosed with bowel cancer or advanced polyps, especially at a younger age; screening often starts earlier and uses colonoscopy
- Inflammatory bowel disease: long-standing ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease affecting the colon, which calls for regular surveillance colonoscopy on a schedule set by your gastroenterologist
- Previous polyps or bowel cancer: follow-up colonoscopy at the interval your doctor advises
Symptoms are a different matter. Blood in the stool, a lasting change in bowel habit, iron deficiency anaemia or unexplained weight loss need prompt assessment by a doctor, rather than a screening test. These signs call for a diagnostic colonoscopy and a proper consultation.
The UAE has run public awareness campaigns encouraging residents to get screened, because many people in the region are diagnosed later than they need to be. Being well and symptom-free is exactly the right time to start.
What happens
There are two main routes, and your gastroenterologist helps you choose between them.
Stool test. A home kit is used to collect a small stool sample, which is sent to the laboratory to look for tiny traces of blood invisible to the eye. It is simple, private and needs no bowel preparation, which makes it a good option for many people at average risk. It works best as a repeated test, done at the regular interval your doctor recommends.
A positive stool test means a colonoscopy is the next step. Most positive results turn out to have a harmless cause, such as haemorrhoids or a polyp, so a positive result is a reason to act promptly, and a reason for calm rather than alarm.
Colonoscopy. A thin flexible camera is used to examine the whole large bowel directly, and polyps found along the way are usually removed during the same test. This makes colonoscopy both the check and the prevention in one visit. It is the preferred route for people with a family history or inflammatory bowel disease. The procedure itself is described in detail on the colonoscopy page, and sedation options on anesthesia for endoscopy and sedation for procedures.
Any polyps or tissue samples taken are sent to the laboratory, and the findings shape your next step.
Preparing for it
For a stool test, follow the kit instructions given to you, return the sample promptly, and keep it cool in the meantime, which matters in the UAE summer. Tell your doctor about any bleeding from haemorrhoids, as it can affect the result.
For a screening colonoscopy, a bowel-cleansing preparation and written instructions are given to you, and a clean bowel is what allows small, flat polyps to be seen. Drink plenty of clear fluid, and plan around Ramadan with the team if you fast.
Bring details of any relatives with bowel cancer or polyps and their age at diagnosis. This single piece of information often decides which test and starting age suit you best.
Afterwards
A negative stool test means repeating the test at the interval your doctor advises. After a colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist explains what was seen, and laboratory results on any polyps follow at a later appointment. The number, size and type of polyps set the date of your next check, which may be sooner or later than the standard interval.
If a polyp shows features of cancer, your gastroenterologist explains the findings and arranges referral for specialist cancer treatment.
Contact the hospital on 06 599 7777 if you notice bleeding, a change in bowel habit or weight loss between screening tests, and go to the emergency department straight away for heavy bleeding, severe tummy pain or fever after a colonoscopy.
Cost and insurance
Insurance cover for screening varies considerably across UAE plans. Some cover screening colonoscopy or stool testing from a certain age, while others cover colonoscopy only when there are symptoms or a positive stool test. Pre-approval is usually needed for colonoscopy. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you check your cover before booking on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
At what age should I start colon cancer screening?
Colon cancer screening is usually recommended from around age 45 to 50 for people at average risk. People with a close relative who had bowel cancer, or with long-standing inflammatory bowel disease, often start earlier, at an age your gastroenterologist sets.
Should I choose a stool test or a colonoscopy?
A stool test suits many people at average risk because it is simple and done at home, while colonoscopy is preferred for people with a family history, inflammatory bowel disease or previous polyps. Colonoscopy also removes polyps in the same visit. Your gastroenterologist recommends the option that fits your risk.
Does a positive stool test mean I have cancer?
A positive stool test usually has a harmless cause, such as haemorrhoids or a polyp, and most people with a positive result do not have cancer. It does mean you need a colonoscopy to find the source of the blood, and it should be arranged promptly.
Why does removing polyps prevent cancer?
Most bowel cancers grow slowly from polyps over several years, so removing a polyp removes the growth before it has the chance to become cancer. This is why colonoscopy can prevent bowel cancer as well as detect it.
What are the risks and limitations of screening?
No screening test catches every cancer or polyp, so a normal result lowers your risk but does not remove it, and repeating the test at the interval your doctor advises is part of the protection. Stool tests can miss polyps that are not bleeding, and colonoscopy can occasionally miss small or flat polyps, especially if bowel preparation is incomplete. Colonoscopy carries small risks of bleeding or a tear in the bowel wall, mainly after polyp removal, and your gastroenterologist explains these before the test.
How often do I need to be screened?
Screening is repeated at an interval your gastroenterologist sets based on the test used and what it found. A stool test is repeated regularly, while the gap before the next colonoscopy depends on whether polyps were found, how many, and their type.
I have bleeding or a change in bowel habit. Is screening right for me?
Bleeding, a lasting change in bowel habit, anaemia or unexplained weight loss are symptoms that need a doctor's assessment, not a screening test. Book a consultation promptly so the cause can be investigated, usually with a diagnostic colonoscopy.
Does insurance cover colon cancer screening?
Insurance cover for colon cancer screening varies between UAE plans, with some covering screening from a set age and others covering colonoscopy only for symptoms or a positive stool test. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777 before booking.
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