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Colorectal Cancer Detection and Prevention

You Can Prevent Colorectal Cancer Through Early Detection!

When colon cancers are detected and treated at an early state (and have not spread beyond the colon or rectum) they are cured in 90% of all cases! The American Cancer Society recommends that beginning at age 50 men and women should follow one of these five testing options:

• Yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
• Yearly FOBT and flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years (preferred over either option alone)
• Double contrast barium enema every five years
• Colonoscopy every 10 years

Note:

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy together with FOBT is preferred when compared to FOBT or flexible sigmoidoscopy alone.

• All positive tests should be followed up with colonoscopy. People should begin colon cancer testing earlier and/or undergo testing more often if they have any of the following colon cancer risk factors:

  • Personal history or family history of colon cancer
  • Personal or family history of intestinal polyps
  • Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative or Crohn's colitis)
  • Certain genetic factors (familial adenomatous polyposis, Gardner's syndrome, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer)

Learn more on our Colorectal Cancer Screening web page.

Polyp Pest

The Polyp Pest is a special bathroom door hanger to put to use when preparing for a colonoscopy. The U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center has designed them and is giving them away to help encourage and remind people to get screened for colon cancer. Learn more about it here.

More Information

• Colorectal Cancer Screening web page
• Polyp Pest
• Colonoscopy
• Information Guide

 

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See Also:

• Family Matters: When Cancer Is Inherited
  
  
• U-M, Israeli scientists report major advance in search for genes associated with colon cancer
  
  
• Colorectal Cancer Information
  
  
• From the UMHS web site
  • Sigmoidoscopy
  • Colonoscopy
  • Barium enema

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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
1500 East Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

This site is part of the U-M Health System. The information presented is not a tool for self diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. © 2008 U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center