Colonoscopy and Colorectal Cancer Screening
Upstate offers colonoscopy and colorectal cancer screenings. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 315 464-HOPE (4673) to speak with an Upstate Cancer Center representative.
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Screening is done to find and treat health problems early. Screening tests are given to people who do not have symptoms, but may be at risk for a health problem.
Screening Guidelines
Talk to the doctor about what screening tests should be done when. Most guidelines suggest the following:
Screening is advised starting at age 45. Screening may be done with stool based tests and visual exams:
Stool based tests—stool samples are checked for possible signs or symptoms of cancer.
- Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year
- High-sensitivity fecal occult blood test (FOBT) every year
- FIT-DNA stool test with high sensitivity every three years
Visual tests—the doctor can see the inner walls of the rectum and colon.
- Colonoscopy every 10 years
- Sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
- Virtual colonoscopy (CT colonography) every 5 years—for those who cannot have scope procedure
Guidelines for those with a sibling or parent who had colorectal cancer age 60 include:
- Start screening at age 40
- Colonoscopy every 10 years or more often based on findings
Guidelines for those with sibling or parent that had colorectal cancer onset age 60 include:
- Start screening at age 40 or 10 years younger than the age when the family member was diagnosed—whichever is first
- Colonoscopy every 5 years or more often based on findings
The same screening tests used for people at average risk can also be used for those who are high risk.
References
- American Cancer Society recommendations for colorectal cancer early detection. American Cancer Society website. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/moreinformation/colonandrectumcancerearlydetection/colorectal-cancer-early-detection-acs-recommendations.
- Benson, A.P., Venook, A.B., et al. Colon Cancer. Version 2.2017 NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2017; 15 (3): 370-398.
- Colon cancer treatment option overview. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/types/colorectal/patient/colon-treatment-pdq#section/%5F135.
- Colorectal cancer. American Cancer Society website. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003096-pdf.pdf.
- Colorectal cancer. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/condition/colorectal-cancer.
- Glynne-Jones, R., Wyrwicz, L., et al. Rectal cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Annals of Oncology, 2017; 28 (suppl%5F4): iv22-iv40.