Preventable. Treatable. Beatable.
Ages 21 - 44
Find out if you are at a higher risk for colon cancer. If not, then a screening test is not needed at this time.
If you are at increased risk, talk to a health care provider about when you need to start screening and what screening tests are right for you.Ages 45 - 75
Regular screenings should begin at age 45 for average risk adults.
People who are in good health with a life expectancy of more than 10 years should continue regular colorectal cancer screening through the age of 75.Ages 76 - 85
Talk with your health care provider about whether continuing screening is right for you. Most people older than 85 no longer need to be screened.
Find a Primary Care Provider
Having someone to guide you through healthy lifestyle changes can make those changes easier. Reach out to one of our primary care providers today.
Search Providers View Locations
Colorectal Cancer Screening Assessment
Colorectal Cancer Screening Options
Regular colorectal cancer screening is one of the most powerful tools for preventing and detecting colorectal cancer.
Screening is the process of looking for cancer or pre-cancer in people who have no symptoms of the disease. Screening can be done either with a sensitive test that looks for signs of cancer in a person?s stool (a stool-based test), or with an exam that looks at the colon and rectum (a visual exam).
The types of tests performed at our screening clinic include:
A simple, routine, and safe procedure performed under general sedation in which your doctor uses a long, flexible tube with a light and camera (called a colonoscope) to view the entire length of the large intestine. Abnormal growths and polyps can be painlessly removed during the procedure and sent for a biopsy.
A bowel preparation solution is required to empty and cleanse your colon prior to your procedure.
An alternative to a colonoscopy, this test uses a special x-ray to obtain 3-D images of your colon and rectum. The images show any polyps or other abnormalities in the colon. This test can be used for patients with medical conditions, such as bleeding disorders, that make traditional colonoscopies riskier.
An x-ray procedure in which your doctor administers an enema with a barium solution, which coats the colon and highlights any abnormalities.
A simple take-home test in which 1-3 stool samples are collected and sent to the lab for evaluation to detect the presence of blood in the stool that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
No preparation is needed for this exam. You simply need to get the kit from your doctor and collect the sample.
If your FIT comes back positive, a colonoscopy will be needed to look for polyps or any other cause for blood in the stool.
Similar in procedure to a colonoscopy, except this test looks only at the lower portion of the large intestine and the rectum, instead of the entire large intestine.
A take-home test that identifies DNA changes in the cells of a stool sample and looks for abnormal DNA associated with colon cancer or polyps. The test also detects hidden blood in the stool, which can indicate the presence of cancer.
If your Cologuard test comes back positive, a colonoscopy will be needed to look for polyps or any other cause for blood in the stool.
Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer
Anyone can develop colorectal cancer; however, a few conditions can increase your risk of developing it.
Knowing your risk for getting colorectal cancer will help you decide when screening is right for you.
You are considered higher risk if you:
- have an inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn?s disease or ulcerative colitis
- have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps
- have a genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome)
- are of African American or Ashkenazi Jewish descent
If any of these risk factors apply to you, talk with your healthcare provider about when to start screening.
Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer
Most often colorectal cancer doesn’t cause symptoms until it has grown or spread. That’s why it’s best to be tested for colorectal cancer before ever having any symptoms. However, symptoms of colorectal cancer may include:
- rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
- a change in your bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrow stool that lasts more than a few days
- unexplained abdominal pain or cramping
- discomfort or urge to have a bowel movement after you have one
- bloating or full feeling
- unexplained weakness and fatigue
- unexplained weight loss
These symptoms may not mean that you have colorectal cancer, but if you notice unexplained changes and they persist for more than two weeks, it is time to call a doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorectal Cancer Screening
A colon polyp is a small clump of cells that form on the lining of the colon. Most colon polyps are harmless. But over time, some colon polyps can develop into colon cancer, which is often fatal when found in its later stages.
All men and women should be screened for colorectal cancer.
The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45. However, if you or an immediate family member have a history of colorectal cancer or polyps, screening may begin earlier. Talk to your doctor about when you should begin screenings.
People who are in good health and with a life expectancy of more than 10 years should continue regular colorectal cancer screening through the age of 75.
For people ages 76 through 85, the decision to be screened should be based on a person?s preferences, life expectancy, overall health, and prior screening history.
People over 85 should no longer get colorectal cancer screening.
This will depend on the type of screening test performed.
A FIT Test should be performed annually.
A colonoscopy and barium enema should be repeated every 5 to 10 years, depending on if polyps were found.
A virtual colonoscopy should be performed every 5 years.
If you have an increased risk for the disease, have had colorectal cancer in the past, or have had previous treatments for colon polyps, you may require more frequent testing.
At Rochester Regional Health, scheduling a colonoscopy is easy and convenient. Our Fast-Track Colonoscopy does not require a preliminary office visit. You will receive an initial consultation by phone and come in only for your procedure. If results are normal, a follow-up visit is not needed and results will be available in your MyCare account and sent to your primary care provider.