Through colon cancer screening, you can discover polyps and incipient cancers in the intestines. The type of screening can find problems that can be treated before the cancer develops or spreads. Regular screenings can decrease the risk of death and pain caused by colorectal cancer.
People with certain risk factors for colon cancer may need early or more frequent screenings (before the age of 50).
The most common risk factors are:
- A family history of hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)
- A strong family history of cancer or colorectal polyps. This usually means having first degree relatives (father, brother or son) who have suffered from these conditions before the age of 60.
- A personal history of cancer or colorectal polyps
- A personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (eg, ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)
Screening in these groups of people will most likely be done by a colonoscopy.