Question

A 44-year-old woman has symptoms of alternating constipation and diarrhea for 18 months. These symptoms are followed by rectal pain for the next 6 months. She seeks treatment, but she is prescribed only topical medicine and pain killers. She ends up with metastatic rectal cancer and dies within 2 months. Her 41-year-old sister is furious with what she conceives as poor medical care for her sibling and decides that she will not go through the same. What advice should you give the sister regarding screening for colon cancer?

1. Fecal occult blood testing annually only
2. Fecal occult blood testing annually until age 50 then screening colonoscopy every 5 years
3. Fecal occult blood testing annually until age 50 then sigmoidoscopy every 3 years
4. Fecal occult blood testing and double contrast barium enema right away then repeat every 5 years
5. Screening colonoscopy right away and repeat every 3-5 years if normal

Answer 1

The sister should undergo screening colonoscopy right away and repeat every 3-5 years if normal.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sister should be advised to undergo screening colonoscopy right away and repeat every 3-5 years if normal. Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer, as it allows for visualization of the entire colon and the removal of any precancerous polyps.