About Colon Cancer
Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers there is, yet it is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the US.
Nationally, less than half of age appropriate individuals undergo proper screening.
In Oregon, only 11 percent of age appropriate individuals undergo American Cancer Society (ACS) colon screening recommendations.
Because so many polyps are left untreated, colorectal cancer is now the third most common cancer in men and women.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer if detected early, yet in Oregon more than half of colon cancer cases are detected in later stages of the disease.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that beginning at age 50, both men and women at average risk for developing colorectal cancer should be screened.
Traditional colonoscopy and virtual colonoscopy are two of the ACS' preferred screening methods.
It is believed that the greatest deterrent to preventing, or detecting colorectal cancer in its earliest stages, is the public’s embarrassment of the screening process.
American Cancer Society Recommendations
Beginning at age 50, both men and women at average risk for developing colorectal cancer should use one of the screening tests below. The tests that are designed to find both polyps and early cancer are preferred. Talk to your doctor about which test is best for you.
People should talk to their doctor about starting colorectal cancer screening earlier and/or being screened more often if they have any of the following colorectal cancer risk factors:
- A personal history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps
- A personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease
(Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis) - A strong family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
(cancer or polyps in a first-degree relative [parent, sibling, or child] younger than 60 or in 2 or more first-degree relatives of any age) - A known family history of hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC)
Tests that find polyps and cancer
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years*
- Colonoscopy every 10 years
- Double contrast barium enema every 5 years*
- CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years*
Tests that mainly find cancer
- Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) every year*,**
- Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year*,**
- Stool DNA test (sDNA), interval uncertain*
*Colonoscopy should be done if test results are positive.
**For FOBT or FIT used as a screening test, the take-home multiple sample method should be used. A FOBT or FIT done during a digital rectal exam in the doctor's office is not adequate for screening.
Colon Cancer Links:
