Your Best Defense Against Colon Cancer Starts With A Screening
Early detection saves lives. Screening catches problems before they become deadly. The United States ranks second among all states for cancer-related fatalities due to colorectal cancer. Each year, approximately 150,000 new patients receive this diagnosis. More than 50,000 deaths occur annually. Most of these cases become preventable through timely screening practices.
Who Should Get Screened?
- People ages 45 and older who have no family history or symptoms fall under the category of average risk. Start screening now.
- People who have family history or other risk factors need to start testing early and more frequently. They fall under the high-risk category.
- Talk to your doctor about your risk level, and determine when screening should begin for you.
Screening Options
Colonoscopy
- Identifies about 95% of all colorectal cancer cases.
- An outpatient procedure that allows for cancer prevention through polyp removal.
- Covered by most insurances, but be sure to review your specific plan.
- Normal test results allow people to receive screenings once every 10 years.
- Requires bowel prep, along with sedation administration.
Cologuard®
- Detects colorectal cancers in 92% of average-risk patients.
- Home test with no prep or sedation.
- Covered by most insurances, but be sure to review your specific plan.
- The test must be repeated as a new test every three years.
- A positive result requires patients to undergo a colonoscopy for confirmatory testing and polyp removal.
- Risk of missing up to 45% of advanced polyps and up to 8% of cancers.
- High-risk patients should avoid using this method for testing.
What To Do Next
All people age 45 or older need to undergo screening tests. Colonoscopy stands as the most comprehensive screening choice while Cologuard® provides a simpler screening process with limitations. The most important thing is starting (and maintaining) screenings that are right for you.