Colon

Colonandrectalcancer.pdf

Colon and Rectal Cancer: What Is Your Risk?

Screening for colon and rectal cancer can find cancer, if present, at an early stage with a better chance for a cure.

Reporting any symptoms immediately to your doctors is also important, but cancer screening can help find cancer before

symptoms even appear.

Risk Factors

A close relative (a parent, sibling, or child) who has had colon or rectal cancer or polyps at an age younger than

60, or having two close relatives who have had colon or rectal cancer at any age

A known family history of hereditary colorectal cancer conditions

A personal history of colon or rectal cancer, adenomatous polyps, or chronic inflammatory bowel disease

Several screening options are available for early detection of colon and rectal cancer. The American Cancer Society

recommends one of the following five options for men and women beginning at 50 years of age:

A fecal occult blood test (FOBT) every year

Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, OR

A fecal occult blood test every year PLUS flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years (recommended by the

American Cancer Society, 2002)

Other Options

Double-contrast barium enema every 5 to 10 years, OR

Colonoscopy every 10 years

Any positive fecal occult blood tests should be followed up with a colonoscopy.

If you have one or more of the risk factors for colon or rectal cancer, your health care provider may recommend screening

more often.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

• MEDLINEplus Resource Page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/colorectalcancer.html

• The National Cancer Institute: http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancer_information/cancer_type/colon_and_rectal/

• Colon Cancer Alliance: http://www.ccalliance.org (1-877-422-2030)

• American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org (1-800-ACS-2345)

Source: American Cancer Society 2002.