Colon cancer screening guidelines

Colorectal cancer screenings are highly effective at finding cancer early, when the chances of successful treatment are high. Thanks to these screenings, colorectal cancers are some of the most preventable. Still, these cancers are the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. for both men and women.

Advocate Health Care specialists provide colonoscopies and other colorectal cancer screenings in several convenient locations throughout the Chicago metro area. We offer easy colonoscopy scheduling, phone consultations and Saturday appointments. Our goal is to make it easy to get the care you need, when and where you need it.

What is colorectal cancer screening?

Colorectal cancer screenings check for signs of colon and rectal cancers when you have no symptoms. These tests can find growths (polyps) in the early stages of cancer or before they become cancerous. Up to 90% of colorectal cancers are treatable when they’re diagnosed in the early stages.

Types of colorectal cancer screenings

Doctors use several types of colorectal cancer screenings, including:

• Colonoscopy: Traditional colonoscopy is the gold standard in colorectal cancer screening. Your doctor uses a thin, flexible tube (colonoscope) to look closely at your rectum and colon. They look for and remove polyps during a colonoscopy. Find out more about preparing for a colonoscopy.
• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT): An FOBT checks your stool for specks of blood that can be seen only under a microscope. The presence of blood in your stool could point to polyps or other tissue changes. You may have an FOBT to test the stool with a chemical substance called guaiac or a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) to test the stool with a special liquid.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy: Your doctor uses a colonoscope to examine your rectum and the lower third of your colon. You don’t usually need sedation for this 10-minute test.
• Double-contrast barium enema: Your doctor uses an enema to inject barium solution and air into your colon and rectum. The barium coats your intestine and highlights polyps or other tissue changes on an X-ray. These tests usually take around 45 minutes.

Depending on your colorectal cancer risk and health history, your doctor may allow you to get a stool test, flexible sigmoidoscopy or double-contrast barium enema to screen for cancer. These tests may be less invasive than a colonoscopy, but you need them more often. If any of them show polyps or other signs of cancer, you may need a diagnostic colonoscopy to get a closer look.

When to start colon cancer screening

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults with an average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screenings at age 45. You should continue screenings until age 75, when you and your doctor can discuss whether screenings are still beneficial. You may need earlier or more frequent screenings if you have a high risk of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer risk

Colon cancer screening guidelines vary based on your overall risk of colorectal cancer. Your risk may be higher if you have:

• Family history of colorectal polyps or cancers
• Genetic syndromes such as hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (Lynch syndrome) or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
• Health conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• Personal history of colorectal polyps or cancers

When should you get a colonoscopy for colon cancer screening?

Doctors recommend starting screening colonoscopies at age 45. You may need to start screening at a younger age if you’re at high risk for colorectal cancer.

How often do I need a colonoscopy?

Most people need a colonoscopy only once every 10 years. You may need more frequent colonoscopies if you have a higher cancer risk.

Schedule your colonoscopy