Basics about Colorectal Cancer Screening
The colon is the part of the large intestine that connects to your rectum. Cancer of the colon and rectum is called colorectal cancer and it can spread to other organs in your body. Men and women are at risk for colorectal cancer starting at age 50 and possibly earlier if there is a family history. The risk increases as you get older.
During a colorectal cancer screening, the doctor looks for growths in your colon (called polyps). When they are found early, they can be removed before they turn into cancer. This is why it is important to have screenings.
What You Can Do
Talk with your doctor about when the best time is for you to start having colorectal cancer screenings. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you may need to be screened earlier than age 50. There are several different tests to find this cancer and you should talk with your doctor about which type of screening test is best for you.
