Colorectal Cancer Screenings (2013)

Screen for Life – Your Life

March Is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Over 50? It’s time to talk to your doctor about scheduling a regular screening for colorectal cancer.

Cancer of the colon and rectum is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. There are no symptoms for colorectal cancer during the first stages of the disease. That’s the reason early detection is so important. Scheduling a regular screening test is the best way to find the disease early, when treatment is most effective. Here are three options to consider.

Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is the most effective screening test for colorectal cancer. During the procedure, which usually takes from 30 to 60 minutes, a physician uses a thin, lighted tube to look for ulcers, polyps, tumors, inflammation and bleeding in the inner lining of your colon. A colonoscopy is performed in a private area, so there’s no reason to be embarrassed. It does require you to take a laxative solution the day before the test. Recommended screening interval: every five years.

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

This screening only exams the lower part of the colon, so it’s not as comprehensive an examination as a colonoscopy. Recommended screening interval:  every 5 years.

Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)

This test can be performed at home, but it does not detect colorectal cancer as accurately as other screening tests. Recommended screening interval: Once a year.

Risk Factors and Prevention

Factors that increase your risk for colorectal cancer include a high intake of fatty foods, a family history of the disease, and the presence of polyps, a fleshy growth on the inside of the intestines. Eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet and getting regular physical exercise are the two most important ways to help prevent the disease.