Screening for Colon Cancer

Dan Frith

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Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. That is the bad news but the good news is that colorectal cancer can be diagnosed early and successfully treated. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that adults age 50 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer using annual high-sensitivity fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy every five years with fecal occult testing between sigmoidoscopic exams, or colonoscopy every 10 years. According to the Task Force, good evidence exists that using these methods save lives. The recommendation and the accompanying summary of evidence is posted in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The Task Force recommendations don't apply to people with a personal history of certain types of polyps who are being monitored regularly for the condition or to those who have a family history of rare syndromes that increase a person's chances of getting colon cancer.

So....it you are between the age of 50 and 75 get tested and do it now!