INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You can get mushroom spawn through an online vendor that sells fungi spores, as well as some agriculture supply stores and greenhouses. Unlike a complete starter kit, mushroom spawn contains only the spores themselves, which usually come packed into a protective housing material like sawdust.  Enoki mushrooms are sometimes listed as “Enokitake” on specialty websites. “Take” is the Japanese word for “mushroom.”  Starter spawn doesn't include instructions, which means you'll have to learn how to cultivate and tend the mushrooms yourself. If this sounds like too much work, you may be better off using a starter kit instead. Enoki mushrooms are decomposers that can grow in any number of organic substrates, but they tend to favor hardwood sawdust. However, you'll also get successful results using straw or ordinary garden compost. Stock up on enough substrate material to create a bed about 2 inches (5.1 cm) thick so your spores will have plenty of room and resources to grow.  You'll generally find raw substrate materials for sale at the same place where you bought your starter spawn. Any type of sawdust or wood chips will work, as long as they're collected from hard wood. Transfer the substrate to an oven bag or pan with steep sides and place it in an oven preheated to 300 °F (149 °C). Warm the sawdust, wood chips, straw, or compost for 1-2 hours. Once it reaches roughly 180 °F (82 °C), reduce the temperature of the oven to 180 °F (82 °C) and continue heating for 3 hours.  Use a meat thermometer to find the temperature of the substrate material every 15-20 minutes. Avoid heating the substrate past 180 °F (82 °C), as this will also kill off organisms that are beneficial to the mushrooms. After pasteurizing the substrate, remove the bag or pan from the oven and set it on a heat-safe surface to cool. It should be left to sit at room temperature for several hours before you begin adding the spores.  At this point, you can transfer your substrate to your desired growing container, or proceed to raise your mushrooms right in your oven bag or pan. Introducing the cold-loving mushroom spores to the substrate while it's still hot could kill them. Try to distribute the clumped spores evenly over the surface of the substrate. Once they've been added, they'll feed on the pulpy wood and the moisture it contains and begin producing mycelium within a few days.  Check the packaging of your starter spawn for more precise information on how much to use. It may take up to a week after you first sew the spawn for the mycelium to appear. Place a plastic bag or layer of wet newspaper over the spawn-infused substrate. This will provide the spores with a ready supply of moisture, which they'll soak up to grow larger in less time. Designate a shelf in your refrigerator for your Enokis, or create some space on a countertop or in your pantry. Ideally, they should stored at around 40–50 °F (4–10 °C), but they'll also grow without difficulty (albeit a bit slower) in temperatures up to about 75 °F (24 °C).  A growing location like a basement or cabinet beneath the sink is ideal, as these places are often humid as well as cool. Whatever spot you choose, make sure it's well-shaded. Enoki mushrooms can tolerate a little bit of light, but too much can stunt their growth or even cause them to die off. Pull back the plastic or newspaper and spritz the surface of the substrate material lightly with a spray bottle filled with cold, fresh water. Do this once in the morning and again in the evening. There's no need to wet the substrate too thoroughly—just give it a couple sprays and replace the cover. Be careful not to oversaturate the substrate. Doing so could drown out young mushrooms or lead to the growth of harmful bacteria. When kept covered, cool, and moist, your first crop of Enoki mushrooms should spring up in no time. Mushrooms grow faster than almost any other food source, and can actually double in size every day.  In some cases, it may only take a little over a week to end up with a batch of full-sized mushrooms. If your mushrooms seem to be developing slowly, try lowering their surrounding temperature as much as possible to simulate their preferred natural environment.

SUMMARY: Buy a packet of starter Enoki mushroom spawn. Acquire some hardwood sawdust or a similar growing material. Pasteurize the substrate material by heating it to 160–180 °F (71–82 °C). Allow the substrate material to cool for 6 to 8 hours. Spread the mushroom spawn over the substrate material. Cover the growing container. Keep your growing container at room temperature or cooler. Mist the substrate material with water twice a day. Give the mushrooms 2-4 weeks to reach maturity.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: This test requires you to provide a stool sample so your doctor can test for small amounts of blood in your feces. Depending on which type of FOBT you undergo, you may need to avoid certain foods before getting the test. Your doctor can outline the details of the test and any steps you need to take before you provide a sample. Your sample will then be sent to a lab for testing and your doctor will receive the results of the test in a few weeks. For this exam, your doctor will exam your rectum and abdominal for any lumps. If they notice any lumps, they may perform a more detailed test like a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy. You may find getting this test done a bit uncomfortable but your doctor should walk you through the exam and make you feel at ease. The DRE usually takes no longer than a few minutes to complete. This procedure uses a sigmoidoscope, a flexible tube with a lens, to look into your rectum and colon lining. The sigmoidoscope will need to be inserted into your anus, so your lower colon must be cleared of stool beforehand. You are not usually sedated when undergoing this procedure, though you can ask your doctor to do so if you’d prefer. A colonoscopy is done by inserting a colonoscope, a flexible tube with a lens, into your anus so your doctor can check your rectum and colon. Your doctor can also remove any abnormal growths in your colon, upper colon, or rectum for further testing.  You are usually under sedation during the colonoscopy to ensure you do not experience any pain or discomfort. Your doctor will recommend that you do a deep cleanse of your colon before the test. Make sure you prepare properly for the colonoscopy so it goes well. A virtual colonoscopy uses x-ray equipment and a CT scanner to take pictures of your colon and rectum form outside your body. This screening method may be a good option if you’d do not want have to have a standard colonoscopy or you cannot have one due to other health issues.  You will still need to do a thorough cleanse of your colon before the test for it to work. If any abnormal growths are found during the virtual colonoscopy, your doctor will have to perform a standard one to remove them. Some healthcare providers do not cover the cost of a virtual colonoscopy. Check with your insurance provider before you get this test done if you are worried about the cost. This screening option requires you to take an enema with a barium solution. The solution will help to outline your colon and rectum when you undergo an x-ray. This option is not as detailed as a colonoscopy but it can be ideal if you have medical issues that prevent you from having a colonoscopy.

SUMMARY:
Get a fecal occult blood test (FOBT). Have a digital rectal exam (DRE). Allow your doctor to do a sigmoidoscopy. Let your doctor perform a colonoscopy. Try a virtual colonoscopy for a less invasive option. Get a double-contrast barium enema if you cannot get a colonoscopy.