As you read this article, chances are that you, your family, or a close friend has been affected by colon cancer.  According to the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), colorectal cancer, which is, cancer of the colon or rectum, is the third most prevalent cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death.  Approximately one out of every twenty people will be diagnosed with colon cancer in their life.  This article will address the most common questions associated with colon cancer screening.

When should I be screened for colon cancer? The USPSTF recommends the general population colon cancer screening starting at age 50.  The American Cancer Society is now recommending initial screening at age 45 for the general public.  Exceptions to these guidelines do exist and are based on your family’s history of colon cancer.  If a first-degree relative, which would include mom, dad, brother, or sister; has been diagnosed with colon cancer before age 60 you would need a colonoscopy 10 years before the age of diagnosis of that relative or at age 40, whichever one comes first.  For example, if your mom was diagnosed with colon cancer at 52 then your first colonoscopy should be at age 42.  Other exceptions, do exist so be open with your physician about your family’s history of colon cancer.

    The USPSTF currently recommends against screening in patients 75 years and older.  However, exceptions do occur with this and should be discussed with your physician.

What are the risk factors for colon cancer? Nonmodifiable risk factors, which are those you have no control over do exist and are mainly focused around you and your family’s gastrointestinal history.  Modifiable risk factors which you do have control over include obesity, lack of physical activity, smoking, and heavy alcohol usage.

What are my options for screening? USPSTF recommendations include the following.  High-sensitivity Fecal Occult Blood Testing (FOBT) yearly.  This test looks for blood in the stool.  Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years with high-sensitivity FOBT every 3 years.  The sigmoidoscopy is similar to a colonoscopy but only views a small portion of the colon.  If either test is positive a colonoscopy should then be performed for further evaluation.  Colonoscopy every 10 years is the preferred form of screening.  This allows the physician not only to view the entire colon but remove suspicious polyps or abnormal growths along the way. The American College of Gastroenterology have alternative forms of screening that can be discussed with your physician.

How often should a colonoscopy be repeated?  If your colonoscopy is normal, repeat, screening should occur in 10 years.  If your colonoscopy is abnormal, meaning growths were found that were cancerous or had increased risk of becoming cancerous, a repeat screen could be in 1, 3, or 5 years.  Patients who are diagnosed with colon cancer have to increase the frequency of screening following treatment.  Colon cancer, a sometime fatal disease, can be prevented with early screening. If you are 45 years old or over I encourage you to go ahead and speak to your primary care physician about colon cancer screening.