Colorectal screening saves lives.
Do it for you. Do it for them.
The American Cancer Society recommends adults start screening for colorectal cancer at age 45 up until age 75.
(It’s OK if you missed the date, now is a great time to start!)
Colonoscopies are the best way to identify cancer and precancers early, but they may not be the best option for everyone. At-home screening tests are a quick and easy alternative. Talk to your doctor about the best colorectal cancer screening option for you.
While most people should begin regular screening at age 45, everyone should develop a screening plan with their provider based on their risk factors. Those with a family history or other known risk factors may want to begin screening even earlier.
Colonoscopy vs At-Home Screening
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopies can detect cancer earlier than an at-home test, and abnormal growths found during a colonoscopy can be removed during the procedure. It’s a way to prevent and screen for colorectal cancer at the same time.
PROS
- Can prevent and find cancer
- Instant results
- One test every 10 years for average risk people
CONS
- Invasive
- Have to do a dietary preparation
- Time consuming
What to Expect
Preparing for a colonoscopy includes diet restrictions several days before the procedure to help prep your colon. The night before, you’ll use laxatives and a liquid fast to further clean out your colon.
The procedure itself takes 30–60 minutes and is done under sedation so patients typically don’t remember it. Because of the sedation, patients need a caregiver or family member to drive them home.
How to Get
Call your doctor or contact a health clinic near you to schedule an appointment. Need help
finding a doctor? We can help.
At-Home Test
There are two kinds of at-home tests, fecal immunochemical (FIT) and FIT-fecal DNA. A FIT test looks for blood in the poop, and a FIT-fecal DNA test will also find altered DNA.
PROS
- Quick and easy
- No prep
- Non-invasive
CONS
- Cannot prevent cancer
- Need to repeat every 1–3 years
- Results take a few days
- A positive result likely means you will need to get a colonoscopy
What to Expect
An at-home test given to you by your doctor will include detailed instructions. You’ll collect your sample in your bathroom at home, mail it to the lab in the provided container, and the results will be sent to you and your doctor within a few days. Pretty straightforward, pretty simple, and pretty quick.
How to Get
If you’re considering an at-home test, you can request a test from your doctor. Need help finding a doctor? We can help.
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Colonoscopy
At-Home Tests
Colonoscopies can detect cancer earlier than an at-home test, and abnormal growths found during a colonoscopy can be removed during the procedure. It’s a way to prevent and screen for colorectal cancer at the same time.
There are two kinds of at-home tests, fecal immunochemical (FIT) and FIT-fecal DNA. A FIT test looks for blood in the poop, and a FIT-fecal DNA test will also find altered DNA.
PROS
- Can prevent and find cancer
- Instant results
- One test every 10 years for average risk people
CONS
- Invasive
- Have to do a dietary preparation
- Time consuming
PROS
- Quick and easy
- No prep
- Non-invasive
CONS
- Cannot prevent cancer
- Need to repeat every 1–3 years
- Results take a few days
- A positive result likely means you will need to get a colonoscopy
What to Expect
Preparing for a colonoscopy includes diet restrictions several days before the procedure to help prep your colon. The night before, you’ll use laxatives and a liquid fast to further clean out your colon.
The procedure itself takes 30–60 minutes and is done under sedation so patients typically don’t remember it. Because of the sedation, patients need a caregiver or family member to drive them home.
What to Expect
An at-home test given to you by your doctor will include detailed instructions. You’ll collect your sample in your bathroom at home, mail it to the lab in the provided container, and the results will be sent to you and your doctor within a few days. Pretty straightforward, pretty simple, and pretty quick.
How to Get
Call your doctor or visit a health clinic near you to schedule an appointment. Need help finding a doctor? We can help.
How to Get
If you’re considering an at-home test, you can request a test from your doctor. Need help finding a doctor? We can help.
Where to Get Screened
Don’t have a primary care doctor? You can still visit one of these health clinics to get screened.
Colorectal surgeon Dr. Lance Horner of the UNLV School of Medicine talks about the value of colorectal screening.
Click for more videos about colon cancer screening
Why Colorectal Screening is Important
Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States, and almost always develops from precancerous polyps (abnormal growths). These growths take 10–15 years to develop into cancer but can be easily removed once found, typically during a colonoscopy. Catch these growths early with a colonoscopy, and you stop cancer before it starts.
At-home tests find blood or altered DNA in the poop, or once a problem has developed in the colon. An annual test helps catch these problems early when they are most treatable.