A colon cancer screening can prevent cancer. It’s that simple. Yet only 67% percent of adults ages 45-75 had a colonoscopy or at-home FIT test.
The data tells the story:
- Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer in men and women in the United States and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
- According to the American Cancer Society, more than 140,000 new cases are diagnosed in this country every year and more than 50,000 people die from the disease.
- Black and African Americans are about 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer and about 40% more likely to die as a result.
Colon cancer screening, including colonoscopy, could have played a life-saving role for thousands. Colon cancer is not only preventable—it is highly treatable.
What is a Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a test that checks the colon for cancer or polyps (finger-like growths).
Typically performed by a gastroenterologist, the doctor looks into your rectum and colon with a long flexible tube with a camera on the end. If polyps are found, they can be removed during a colonoscopy. Removing polyps does not cause pain. Sometimes these polyps are benign, which means they are not cancer causing. However, sometimes polyps are cancerous or can turn into cancer (precancerous).
To prepare for your colonoscopy, you will need to take laxatives to clean out your colon the day before the test, and you will need to stop taking certain medications and supplements a few days in advance. Your doctor will provide detailed instructions on how to prepare. The entire procedure takes about 30 minutes and should be painless. You will need another adult to drive you home from the test.
Why is a Colonoscopy Important?
A colonoscopy detects cancer in its most curable stage. According to the American Cancer Society, the survival rate for colorectal cancer is 90% when detected early.
Who Should Get a Colonoscopy?
Testing for colon cancer should begin at age 45. However, if you have any of the following risk factors, you should talk to your doctor about having a colonoscopy earlier.
- Family history of colorectal cancer
- Personal history of cancer
- Poor diet (high in animal fat and low in calcium, folate and fiber)
- Smoking
- Ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
- Lynch syndrome
There are some families that inherit genes that cause multiple polyps in the colon. If your family has this diagnosis, you may need to be screened more frequently and at an earlier age. You can learn more about familial colorectal cancer through our Cancer Risk Evaluation Program.
Colonoscopy Testing Results
If the results of your colonoscopy are normal, it is generally recommended you be tested every 10 years. You will need to be screened more often if you have polyps removed that are precancerous (adenomas).
At-Home FIT Test – An Alternative to Colonoscopy
While colonoscopy is the most recommended tool for colorectal cancer screening because it can be used to identify and remove polyps, other options are also available.
If you are not ready for a colonoscopy, the next best option is a Fecal Immuno-histochemistry test (FIT), which can detect about 80% of problems. This test is done in your home, where you will gather a sample of your stool to send back to the lab for processing. If the test results are normal, you will not have to repeat the test for at least one year, possibly two. If the test results are abnormal, the next step is having a colonoscopy to diagnose the problem. A positive test does NOT mean that you have cancer. The important thing to remember is that the FIT will count as your free screening exam. Ask your doctor is this test is right for you.
Schedule an Appointment
Schedule an appointment with your doctor to learn which colon cancer screening option is right for you. Find a provider who performs colonoscopies or a gastroenterology practice.