Skip to content
Health
Link copied to clipboard

Options for colorectal screening

Q: I have a family history of colorectal cancer. Do I need a colonoscopy or is stool testing an option?

Q: I have a family history of colorectal cancer. Do I need a colonoscopy or is stool testing an option?

A: Colorectal cancer is called the "silent" cancer because symptoms often don't emerge until the cancer is quite large. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. If you have a family history, it's crucial to be tested early and often.

Screening tests are given to patients without symptoms and are used to look for polyps, small growths in the lining of the colon that can lead to colorectal cancer. Not all polyps become cancerous, but removing them can reduce the chance of developing cancer. Screens can also find colorectal cancer in an early stage and greatly improve survival.

If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, colonoscopy is the test of choice. A longer, flexible tube is used to look at the entire colon and rectum while you are under sedation.

The timing and frequency should be addressed with your doctor. Screening of average-risk patients begins at age 50.

Other tests for colorectal cancer include:

  1. Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and fecal immunochemical test (FIT): Samples of stool (feces) are checked for blood, which might indicate a polyp or cancer. A positive result will likely require a more invasive test such as colonoscopy.

  2. Sigmoidoscopy: A flexible tube is put into the rectum and lower colon to find polyps and cancer.

  3. Double contrast barium enema: It's an X-ray test of the colon and rectum.

  4. CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy): This is a type of CT scan of the colon and rectum.

Talk with your doctor to choose the best plan.