If you’re wondering how often colorectal cancer screening should be performed, you’ve come to the right place. Depending on your risk factors, you should have colonoscopies every one to three years. Your doctor may recommend more frequent screenings if you’re at increased risk, or you can get your colonoscopy at a more convenient interval. You can also subscribe to a free newsletter about colon cancer, which includes the latest developments in research, as well as expert advice on health management.
The good news is that colorectal cancer is highly curable when caught early. Symptomless polyps often cause no symptoms, so you may not even notice that you have it. Those with an inherited gene that increases the risk of developing colon cancer should have screenings more frequently. Those with a family history of the disease should also have the tests, as they are at an increased risk of developing the disease.
Screening recommendations for colorectal cancer for men should begin around age 45. The screening may take place through stool tests or a visual exam. The stool-based test looks for signs of cancer in the stool, while the visual exam focuses on the rectum and colon. While the ACS recommends colorectal cancer screenings for everyone, some people are at increased risk and should start their colonoscopy sooner rather than later.
While colorectal cancer screening is not a cure, it can reduce your risk of developing the disease by up to 90%. It can also help you detect polyps and other signs of cancer early, which can lead to successful treatment and reduce your risk of death from the disease. While this is a great benefit, there are also several other factors to consider, which may influence the frequency of screenings. You should discuss these with your doctor to ensure the right choice for you.
Although there are several screening options for colon cancer, colonoscopy remains the most effective. It allows physicians to view the colon using a flexible tube. Polyps detected during the screening can be removed. The frequency of colorectal cancer screenings depends on the risk factors of the individual, but an initial screening at age 50 is highly recommended. If you are over 75, it may be time to consider a screening.
FS screening is effective in detecting and resecting premalignant adenomatous polyps. It can also prevent the development of the disease itself. A pooled analysis of four randomized controlled trials showed that annual screening reduced the risk of CRC by 18% and 28%, respectively. The annual screening study also increased the likelihood of colonoscopy, which has proven to be more effective in detecting CRC.
