Family History of Colorectal Cancer -- Should I be Screened?
Asked March 26, 2011
Dear Dr. Wascher,
I presently graduated summa cum laude in an AAMA medical assisting degree program. So I understood your comments you mentioned on another web site about molecular biology and how the cells will show if a person is at risk for cancer. I am concerned because my biological father died of colon cancer at age 49 (I'm 50 now) and I do not know much more on his side of the family and vaguely on my biological mother's side (I was adopted). My question is - will any insurance company pay for the test, and if they do, will it be considered a pre-existing condition if any thing negative shows up? Would it be better to pay for the test out-of-pocket (avoid the insurance company)? Approximately how much would the test cost and what type of doctor would I want to go to? There is a medical school - Des Moines University where I live and the University of Iowa is a two hour drive. Would either school possibly pick up the cost or reduce the cost for research purposes? I live in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Thank you for your time in answering my questions.
Sincerely,
Lori L
Expert answer
Without knowing the rest of your family history, it is difficult to estimate any added risk of colorectal cancer that you face above and beyond the general population. However, even your father's history of early-onset colon cancer probably raises your lifetime risk of colorectal cancer somewhat.
Irregardless of your family history, at age 50, you are now due for screening colonoscopy, and almost every health insurance company will cover the cost of this cancer screening procedure.
Since colonoscopy is not considered to be an experimental or research procedure, the cost of this procedure would not be picked up by a university medical school, I'm afraid.
Hopefully, your colonoscopy will turn out to be normal!
Answered March 27, 2011
Without knowing the rest of your family history, it is difficult to estimate any added risk of colorectal cancer that you face above and beyond the general population. However, even your father's history of early-onset colon cancer probably raises your lifetime risk of colorectal cancer somewhat.
Irregardless of your family history, at age 50, you are now due for screening colonoscopy, and almost every health insurance company will cover the cost of this cancer screening procedure.
Since colonoscopy is not considered to be an experimental or research procedure, the cost of this procedure would not be picked up by a university medical school, I'm afraid.
Hopefully, your colonoscopy will turn out to be normal!
Answered March 27, 2011
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