Jefferson University Hospitals

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed among both men and women in the United States and the leading cause of cancer death.

Fortunately, it’s also easily prevented.

“Screening can help prevent colon cancer by finding and removing all polyps, or it can detect cancer early, when the cure rate is highest,” explains David M. Kastenberg, MD, associate professor of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.

Should you be screened?
Everyone should be screened beginning at age 50. If someone in your family has had polyps or colon cancer, you should have your first colonoscopy at age 40 or 10 before that relative was diagnosed – whichever occurs first.

Screening options
Guidelines from nationally recognized organizations recommend any of the following:

• Colonoscopy – The gold standard. Utilizes a long, thin, flexible instrument connected to a camera and video display monitor to examine the colon and remove polyps found. Recommended every five to 10 years.
• Virtual colonoscopy – A relatively new procedure that uses X-rays to take cross-sectional views through the abdomen.
• Double contrast barium enema – X-rays of the colon following insertion of barium, a contrast dye, through the rectum.
• Fecal occult blood test – A do-it-yourself test to detect blood in the stool.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy – Utilizes a thin tube with a tiny camera on the end to visualize the last third of the colon.
• Stool DNA – Lab analysis of stool for genetic material from cancer or polyp cells.