Colorectal Screening

Risk factors for colon cancer

History of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis)
Racial and Ethnic Background
→ American Indian and Alaska Native people have the highest rates of colorectal cancer
→ African American men and women have the second highest rates

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Early indicators of colorectal cancer could include:
→ Blood in or on your poop
→ Changes in your bathroom habits such as persistent constipation and/or diarrhea
→ Intense belly pain that doesn't go away
→ Unexplained weight loss

However, colorectal cancer does not always have symptoms before it spreads to other parts of the body - you may have it even without any signs.

Beginning at age 45, both men and women should start getting regularly screened for colorectal cancer.

Through screening, polyps can be detected and painlessly removed before they can develop into cancer.

Screening costs are usually covered by private insurances and Medicare.

It is much easier to treat colorectal cancer when it is found early.

- For people who develop colorectal cancer, the

5-year survival rate when it is discovered in the

early stages is nearly 90%

Colonoscopy - the gold standard for screening, and allows immediate removal of any potentially dangerous polyps

Home testing kits don't need preparation and are non-invasive. However, they are less accurate and need to be done more frequently.

FIT Test - looks for trace amounts of blood in stool sample

Cologuard - consists of a FIT test and a DNA test