Colorectal cancer is highly treatable and often curable when detected in its early stages. The following guidelines are for men and women with an average risk for colorectal cancer and polyps. Certain factors such as a personal or family history or colorectal polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, or breast, ovarian, or endometrial cancer may increase your risk. Be sure to speak with your physician about when to begin screening and the types of procedures necessary.

Guidelines for Screening for Colorectal Polyps and Cancer

For people age 50 and over:

• Yearly digital rectal examination (DRE) by a physician and

• Yearly fecal occult blood test

  • With Sigmoidoscopy every 5 years

  • Or colonoscopy every 10 years

  • Or double contrast barium enema every 5 years

Definitions:

• A fecal occult blood test is a check for hidden blood in a sample of stool.

• A digital rectal examination is a painless test during which the physician inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to feel for any abnormal growths.

• A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a visual examination of the lower third of the colon with a slender, non-rigid tube called a sigmoidoscope.

• A colonoscopy is a visual examination of the entire colon with a slender, lighted, flexible tube called a colonoscope.

• A double-contrast barium enema is an x-ray procedure of the entire colon.