Sending your poop in a field via the mail. It appears like a child’s prank. However doing all of your at-home colon most cancers take a look at is ‘adulting’ on steroids. Sure, nobody desires to do it. My children had been grossed out after I defined what the field was for. However here is why it is a must-do: It is doubtlessly an easy approach to save your life.
Final 12 months, I did the FIT take a look at. I took a really small pattern of my poop. And mailed it to a lab for testing. This 12 months, I graduated to the Cologuard® at-home colon most cancers take a look at. The pattern I despatched was a lot bigger.
I didn’t know what to anticipate. Wouldn’t it be difficult? Simple to comply with? Here is the decision. It was straightforward peasy. Nothing just like the stress of making an attempt to comply with Ikea furnishings directions. And positively simpler than following at-home COVID take a look at directions.
Here is what I realized on what, and what NOT, to do. You solely get one Cologuard field. And getting correct outcomes may imply you catch most cancers in time to deal with it.
My Stunning Cologuard Expertise
My expertise with the Cologuard at-home stool take a look at was fairly clean. I used to be pleasantly stunned. I did not have a single second the place I used to be uncertain what to do subsequent.
First, the day after my supplier ordered it for me, I obtained textual content messages telling me that my take a look at package was on its approach. I felt reassured to know the prescription went via.
The field arrived. And all the things — the outside labels, the instructions inside, the labels on all of the items — had been all clear and comprehensible. The entire thing was, as my dad used to say, idiot-proof.
I obtained the take a look at outcomes again only a few days after I put the field within the mail. I want all the things I did was this fast, straightforward, and hassle-free. Now for the nitty-gritty half.
6 Issues to Keep away from Throughout an At-Dwelling Colon Most cancers Check
Nonetheless, there have been issues I want I might recognized earlier than I opened up that field. Possibly what I realized might be apparent to others. However I am not essentially the most virtually minded particular person. So here is my recommendation.
With the following pointers, plus the already wonderful Cologuard expertise, you are certain to have a profitable at-home colon most cancers take a look at.
#1: Do not put the package’s items on a floor that is not within the rest room.
Not pondering, I used our tiny rest room. It does not have a lot counter house in any respect. So I had the take a look at package laid out on the eating room desk. I wished to unfold all the things out to get it proper.
This labored effective, at first. However then I discovered myself scurrying between rest room and eating room like a squirrel transferring nuts.
#2 Do not use a unclean rest room.
Fortunately, I had a really shiny and recent rest room at my disposal. However you must elevate the bathroom seat to set within the assortment holder.
A gross one would have ruined my focus.
#3 Do not permit your canine to take part.
Possibly ‘take part’ is an exaggeration. However I KNOW I am not the one canine proprietor who finds her canine associates cramming themselves into the toilet each time she visits — particularly these COVID-quarantine puppies, with you each minute of day by day.
However I am telling you. I used to be actually intent on accumulating a clear, fur-free specimen. Having my canine at my toes was not useful. I ought to have put him in his crate.
#4 Do not take too lengthy to get the pattern again.
This one is tremendous essential. And imagine me, the take a look at package had loads of reminders about this.
The great factor is, you’ve a number of months to do the take a look at. The not-nice factor is, in the event you’re a procrastinator, you would possibly put it off. And overlook the deadline. Then miss the deadline. You may have to begin another time, along with your physician.
#5 Do not do the take a look at in the event you’re in your interval.
That is maybe the one piece of data I did not get till I might already opened the field and began the sampling course of. So, head’s up: In case you’re bleeding in any respect, wait till you are not. For an at-home colon most cancers take a look at, your pattern must be as pure as attainable.
#6 Do not ignore the directions.
Like I stated, the instructions are straightforward to learn. The font is massive. The instruction booklet is colourful. And the to-do steps are straightforward to comply with.
However do not get cocky and skim the information. This isn’t an intuitive factor you’ll be able to vaguely guess at and meet the mark. Learn all of the phrases on the entire thing — each within the field and on the exterior delivery labels.
I virtually tousled after I began to skip a web page. I wrongly thought the subsequent motion was apparent.
Able to DIY?
In case you’re 45 or older, ask your supplier to order you one.
Do not NOT do it!
There is no purpose NOT to get an at-home colon most cancers take a look at. This complete journey was:
Quick
Free
Simple
Probably life-saving
That is proper: As of this writing, most insurances cowl each a stool-based take a look at and a follow-up colonoscopy.
And severely, after I went to drop off the field on the UPS retailer, the particular person behind the counter did not bat an eye fixed. She simply advised me to set it down and that was it. No must pay or observe the factor, all of that’s already on the field. It took 2 seconds.
These assessments really work. And in the event that they discover one thing in your poop, they provide you with a warning instantly to go get a colonoscopy. Throughout that process (not fairly as enjoyable as Cologuard, I admit), in case your physician finds a polyp, or little bump, in your colon, they’ll take them out proper then and there. That polyp may flip into most cancers. However now it is gone. You do not have to fret.
Talking of alerts: I obtained a textual content message, in addition to a notice in MyChart, that my take a look at package had arrived. A pair days later, the messages gave me the all-clear. Whew!
If I can do it, anybody can.