The Younger Face of Colon Cancer

More and more individuals ages 25-35 years olds are being diagnosed with colon cancer. Unfortunately, colonoscopy is not covered by insurance unless an individual is deemed high risk or until age 45. There is a general unwillingness to have a colonoscopy due to uncomfortable bowel prep, time away from work, and expense. Second Generation FIT® is a highly accurate test completed in about five minutes in the privacy of your home with no bowel prep and no diet or medicine restrictions. The Fecal Immunochemical Test has been proven to find cancer early when it is curable. Even more compelling is its ability to find precancerous adenomas thus preventing colon cancer. Statistics regarding colon cancer in the United States have remained constant for several years. Each year, roughly 150,000 people will be diagnosed with colon cancer and nearly 50,000 individuals will die from the disease.

Unfortunately, only 58% of the population is current with CRC screening. It is estimated that new CRC cases (actual instances of colon cancer) would drop by 277,000 if 80% of the population would be current, with another 203,000 deaths prevented. As you would guess, screening rates are dangerously low at only 20% for under-insured persons and 37% for people with no high school diploma. Second Generation FIT® is the only test that breaks down these financial barriers and socio-economic barriers.

A positive Second Generation FIT® should almost always be followed up with a colonoscopy. Consult a physician with your results.  The FIT test is designed to look for human globin antibodies, part of hemoglobin - the top bio-marker for colon cancer, diverticulitis, colitis, and other lower GI disease states. The Second Generation FIT® test is highly sensitive, designed to illicit a positive result at just 50 nanograms of globin. Studies show that any positive FIT test should be followed up with colonoscopy and a good goal is two to three months from the positive FIT.  Remember, only a colonoscopy can prevent or cure colon cancer as a physician can excise polyps during the procedure. The goal of Second Generation FIT® is to get the right people to colonoscopy. If your results are negative, the next step is to simply re-test in 12 months.

The Second Generation FIT® test is over-the-counter cleared for home use, but it is also used by hospitals, laboratories and physician’s offices around the country and around the world. Pinnacle BioLabs is an FDA registered manufacturer of in vitro diagnostic tests and the Second Generation FIT® test is designed in Nashville, TN and manufactured entirely in the United States of America.