Colon and Rectal Cancer
Screening

 Screening for colon and rectal cancer means checking the colon before symptoms occur.  Screening can find polyps that are usually precancerous, as well as some cancers that are in an early stage within the colon lining before they spread throughout the body.  At your initial screening examination with colonoscopy, a preferred screening method, these polyps can be painlessly removed.  There are other methods to screen people for colon and rectal cancer, and these methods should be discussed with your physician.  If you have close relatives (parents, brothers, sisters, or your own children), who have had colon and rectal cancer or polyps, you may be more likely to develop colon and rectal cancer, especially if they had cancer at a young age (below 50).  Major organizations recommend colon cancer screening at age 50 with colonoscopy, however, if a close relative has had this disease, you should speak to your doctor about getting screened earlier.  The early recognition of colon and rectal cancer symptoms can save your life.  Symptoms may include a change in the frequency of bowel movements, bloating or fullness of the abdomen, rectal bleeding, or onset of fatigue or weight loss that is otherwise unexplained.  You should not delay in seeing your physician if you have these symptoms.  Many average risk patients are apprehensive about undergoing colon and rectal cancer screening, which is an obstacle to prevention or early cure.  In fact only 40% of eligible patients have screening.  Please speak to your physician if you are over the age of 50, have a close family member who has colon and rectal cancer, or if you are having suggestive symptoms.