When to Start Colorectal Cancer Screenings

When to Start Getting Colonoscopies

Colorectal cancer is a chronic health condition in which the cells of the colon or rectum continue to grow at an uncontrollable rate. Typically this form of cancer will manifest as polyps, or growths, beforehand. These growths can be identified and removed early on with routine screenings.

With colorectal cancer being the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, early detection is key for effective treatment. However, many adults wonder when it's appropriate to start routine screenings. Here’s what you should know:

What is a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a surgical procedure where a colonoscopy—a small flexible tube with a camera at the end—is placed in the anus and fed into the rectum and colon. This allows your surgical care team to view the inside of the rectum and colon to check for abnormal growths that can then be removed and biopsied.

Other Types of Colorectal Cancer Screenings

Along with colonoscopies, the following screenings can also help your medical care team to look for signs of colorectal cancer:

• Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)
• Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
• FIT-DNA test
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy

When to Start screenings

With 90% of colorectal cancer cases being found in patients over the age of 50, it is important to start getting routine treatments around this age. The CDC recommends that adults of average risk of developing colorectal cancer start getting colonoscopies and other forms of screenings at the age of 45.

Primary Care in Titusville

When it comes to supporting your health, it is important to find a family care doctor you can trust. The family doctors at Parrish Medical Group Family Medicine treat patients throughout all stages of your life, providing you and your family with the insight, resources, and preventative care you need to live happily and healthily.

Whether you’re in need of a regular checkup or you have a health concern, contact Parrish Medical Group Family Medicine to schedule your next visit.