Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the United States and is one of the few cancers where screening is proven beneficial. Therefore, the importance of consistent, high-quality colorectal cancer screening cannot be overstated.
Marine Corps Veteran Larry Shuster was being screened regularly through home-based fecal immunochemical (FIT) testing every year when blood was discovered in his stool.
He had a colonoscopy performed as recommended for anyone with an abnormal FIT. Fortunately, his cancer was able to be removed because it was caught early due to the regular screening.
Affects men and women of all races and ethnic groups
“I was listening to my doctors,” said Shuster. “Everyone really paid me a lot of attention to make sure I was okay.”
Colorectal cancer affects both men and women of all races and ethnic groups. Veterans who are 45-75 years old are strongly encouraged to talk to their VA provider about the need for colorectal cancer screening and the options available to them.
Regular screenings may reduce the risk of dying from colon cancer by upwards of 68%.
Multiple screening options from VA
The most important message is that colon cancer screening is effective, but screening only works if it gets done.
VA offers multiple screening options, including a painless, home-based fecal immunochemical test (FIT) that checks for blood in your stool, traditional colonoscopy, and flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Shuster encourages his fellow Veterans to get screened for colorectal cancer. “Just get it done, and let the doctors help you,” he said.
Topics in this story
More Stories
For the Great American Smokeout, explore VA resources and learn why every attempt to stop smoking is a step toward success.
If you’ve lost a loved one to suicide, resources and support are available to help you cope during your grieving and healing.
Army Veteran Denis Velez donated a painting of his VA hospital as a way of giving back for his treatment there.
I have had 13 colonoscopies. The first 2 were due to blood loss from peptic ulcer disease. In the meantime colon polyps were discovered and removed. The first top and bottom scoping was at a civilian hospital when I had personal medical insurance. The second was at a V A. in Little Rock, AR. It was several hours before I came out of the sedation. Subsequently, the following 11 procedures were done without sedation per my wishes. Polyps that were present were removed. I usually watched the screen and conversed with the medical personnel. I had my final procedure this Spring and got an ALL CLEAR after an eleven year span from the previous test. I said FINAL since I am looking forward to turning 87 in February. However, if I should feel the need for another procedure if I stick around for another 10 or so many years I’ll be happy to “bare all” once more. If I had to rate the performance of the performing medical individual I would have to name a female doctor as one of or the best! I am very appreciative of my V A care since my prostate cancer was discovered EARLY and treated 14 years ago through regular PSA screening. And the fact that H. pylori was detected and treated at the V A – this blood bacteria is a cause of ULCERS. hmmmm Also, I was found to have hypothyroidism and treated since 20 years ago. And regularly screened since I am diabetic for over 50 years. Drop by the Temple,TX., V A K.T. clinic anytime and take a gander at the 30 to 40 medals I earned in swimming and cycling at National Golden Age Events over a 15 year period. Need I say more? YES, THANK YOU !!!!!!!!
Please give veterans like myself a choice between all of the most common colorectal cancer screening options. You are missing one of the best noninvasive tests available on the market today – Cologuard. Cologuard is FDA approved, 92% sensitive (true positives), requires no bowel prep, is done in the comfort of your home and looks for abnormal levels of altered DNA (10 biomarkers) and blood associated with colorectal cancer. Colonoscopies are wonderful but not everyone has the time or can tolerate the bowel prep. Fit is a good test with 74% sensitivity, but it only looks for blood in the stool that is typically associated with late stage colorectal cancer. Veterans like myself need to know about all the options for colorectal cancer screening, have earned the right to choose the test that is right for them, and should have access to these tests through the VA.
What about Cologuard? Is this an option in the VA, I have not been offered his option during my exam? I always see the commercial and know friends that have used this test.
I agree. What about cologuard
FIT test sounds like a great test. I want one, but I had a colonoscopy 12 years ago and was told I was good to go for at least 10 years. I would do a fit test and if needed would have another colonoscopy, so long as it was done by a local provider and not the VA.
I trust my primary care provider at my local VA, but I don’t trust much else there, it is a perception from my own experiences. I have experienced personally, long delays in treatment.
Tell me how to get a FIT test, that seems like a good proactive test that could help determine if there is a problem. Thanks for the article.
Depending on local VA Policy in the 50 Contiguous States and Various Outlying Islands, different procedures are controlled by different Administration Guidelines. Of course, as far as all procedures and diagnostic tools to discover that little silent killer COLEN CANCER Their should only be ONE Test, Colonoscopy, Fecal Blood can’t pick up polyps, cancerous or not, and quite frankly, can grow and metastasize rapidly. The policies are different still between care received in Boston as opposed to Sacramento, or Oklahoma City as with many others having to deal with health. VA will tell you different but as more than a few veterans have stated here, it still goes on today. Colonoscopy is the only way to physically diagnose the presence of cancer or the presence of pre cancerous polyps and or many other diseases that effect the colon, and rectum. ALL VA Medical Centers should be doing these invaluable procedures per the US Established Guidelines of the NIH, FDA and other Alphabet Agencies of theUS Government! If they are not call Washington DC and let them know! Go on line and report as potential abuse, contact your National Congressional Reps and Senators. Cancer is no laughing matter. Knowing of its existence early is as essential as the medicine, the Radiological or Surgical Options used to eradicate it.
Female vets please be aware that if you have abdominal adhesions/scaring from previous surgeries, trauma, childbirth, or infection and decide to have a colonoscopy, you may have vaginal discomfort afterwards. I recently had an awake Colonoscopy(I can’t handle sedation because of MST) and had severe adhesions from physical trauma and prior surgery. If I hadn’t been awake, I would have sworn that I was violated because of the pulling caused by the adhesions on the uterus & vaginal wall created the same feeling. I would encourage all doctors to please let females undergoing any colonoscopy or Sigmoidoscopy that this is a possible side effect. If I had been sedated for this procedure, because of my past MST and other traumas by medical personnel, I would have been suicidal!
Just a tip: Make sure it is an actual Gastroenterologist that does your procedure as they are the ONLY doctors required to have 1000 hours training. Don’t let residents, fellows, or General surgery docs use you for practice as there are too many things that can go wrong! You have the right to request QUALIFIED medical doctors perform any/all of your procedures & surgeries. A lesson I have learned the hard way.
I have had two previous colonoscopies that found polyps and were removed. This was done by Kaiser in California. My wife had good medical Insurance from work and I was on her plan. Since we left California and moved back to new Mexico I wanted to get a coloscopy as I was over due, It’s been over 5 years. I went to the local VA clinic and was told that the VA does not do colonoscopies only the FIT test. So that’s what they gave me. I would feel more confident with a colonoscopy since I have had polyps in both previous colonoscopies. I guess now that I have Medicare I will have to seek a private doctor that can do the colonoscopy.
Not true, I had the procedure done at the VA hospital in May. Excellent people!
How often should one be screened if one’s father had polyps regular? I just had a screen this past Spring and had one polyp (at the VA). Doctor told me I didn’t need anymore screenings.
What? Are you sure the Doctor said “didn’t need any more screenings” ever? If so, get a second opinion.
I had the same thing happen to me. Two of my last two colonoscopies showed benign tumors. The email from the VA doc who did the test and the doc who reviewed the results both said the same thing – I don’t need any more screening.
To tell you the truth, I think that message is a footer in their Outlook email program, going out to everyone!
I’m 72. If you want to play the “statistics” game, I should be getting tested until I’m 75.
So……… ?