Colon cancer screening is the process of finding and removing precancerous (abnormal) growths called polyps that can develop into colon cancer over time. It’s a good way to prevent cancer, and it can save lives.
Your doctor can find out if you have a higher risk of getting colon cancer by looking at your family medical history and discussing the results of a few tests, such as a stool test or a colonoscopy. They’ll also consider your age, health, and any risk factors you have.
A colonoscopy allows your doctor to look at the entire colon and rectum while you are sedated. This procedure is one of the most sensitive tests available for detecting cancer or polyps. A doctor can remove polyps and other abnormal tissue for further examination, called biopsies.
The exam may not find all small polyps or cancers, and you might need to get a follow-up test to see if the colonoscopy missed any problems.
If your doctor finds a problem, you’ll need to have treatment. This can include surgery or drugs to kill or destroy the cancer or stop its spread.
You might also have to have a CT scan of your abdomen or a special imaging test called a MRI, which can find cancer that’s missed on the colonoscopy or a stool test. These tests can be expensive, so talk to your doctor about which test is best for you.
Screening is important for all adults. It’s especially important for people with certain risk factors, such as a family history of colon cancer or chronic irritable bowel disease.
For people with a high risk of colorectal cancer, your doctor may recommend an earlier screening than the average person. These people have a family history of colorectal cancer or an advanced polyp, or they have other factors that raise their risk of the disease.
They should have a colonoscopy or a stool test more often than the average person. They should have the colonoscopy before age 45 and repeat it every 3 years or sooner if needed.
Other screening methods for people at average risk include a stool test, a FIT or gFOBT blood test, and a CT colonography or flexible sigmoidoscopy. These tests may be more effective and less costly than a colonoscopy.
FIT and gFOBT are annual fecal occult blood (FOB) tests that look for atypical DNA, or traces of blood, in the stool. They are not as sensitive as colonoscopy, but they are easier to administer and require less frequent follow-ups.
Capsule endoscopy is a pill-sized camera that takes a video of the inside of your intestines, and it can be used to diagnose colorectal cancer in people at high risk. But it isn’t yet recommended for standard screening, so talk to your doctor about whether this testing option is right for you.
The most effective way to prevent colorectal cancer is to have regular screenings. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that all people with an average risk of the disease have screening starting at age 45 and continuing through age 75 if they have no other medical conditions or health problems.
