Colorectal cancer screening tests can find precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests can also find colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best.1
About colorectal cancer
Most colorectal cancers start as abnormal growths called polyps that form on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Over time, some types of polyps become cancerous.2
Colorectal cancers tend to be slow growing, but they can spread to other parts of the body. Colorectal cancer often starts in the innermost layer of the wall and may grow outward through some or all the other layers. From here, the cancer cells can grow into blood vessels of lymph vessels, and then they can travel to nearby lymph nodes or to distant parts of the body.2
What causes colorectal cancer?
Researchers aren’t entirely sure what causes colorectal cancer, but they have been able to identify several factors that increase a person’s risk of developing it; these are called risk factors.1
Take the quiz below to help you evaluate some of your risks for colorectal cancer.
| Are you at risk for colorectal cancer? Check yes or no for each statement below. | YES | NO |
| Are you over age 45? | ||
| Do you have a personal history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer? | ||
| Do you have a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease? | ||
| Do you have a family history of colorectal cancer or precancerous polyps? | ||
| Are you African-American? | ||
| Do you have type 2 diabetes? | ||
| Are you overweight or obese? | ||
| Are you physically inactive? | ||
| Do you eat a diet high in red meats and processed meats? | ||
| Do you smoke or have you ever smoked? | ||
| Are you a heavy alcohol drinker (>2 drinks per day for men, or > 1 drink per day for women)? |
Colorectal cancer risk assessment results
According to the American Cancer Society, the more times you answered “Yes” to the quiz, the greater your risk for developing colorectal cancer.1 Regardless of your score, if you are age 45 or older, you should talk to your healthcare provider about when and how often to have a colorectal cancer screening.
Colorectal cancer screenings
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults age 45 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer. If you’re older than 75, ask your healthcare provider if you should be screened.3
Several screening tests can be used to detect colorectal cancer. Some check for blood in the stool while others look for polyps. Talk to your healthcare provider about which of the following tests is right for you.
Colonoscopy. For this test, a doctor uses a long, thin, flexible, lighted tube to check for polyps or cancer inside the rectum and the entire colon. Polyps and some cancers can be found and removed. A colonoscopy is recommended once every 10 years.
Fecal immunochemical test (FIT). This test uses antibodies to detect small amounts of blood through a stool sample. It is recommended annually.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy. This test uses a short, thin, flexible, lighted tube to check for polyps or cancer in the rectum and lower part of the colon. It is recommended once every five years, or once every 10 years in combination with an annual FIT.
Fecal occult blood test (gFOBT). This test detects small amounts of blood through a stool sample. It is administered via a take-home kit from your healthcare provider. It is recommended annually.
FIT-DNA test. This test, also called a stool DNA test, detects blood and DNA in a stool sample, which may indicate precancerous or cancerous cells. It is recommended once every one to three years.4
Talk to your healthcare provider
Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn’t mean that you won’t get cancer. If you think you may be at risk, you should talk to your provider.
Here are some questions to help get you started:
- Am I at risk?
- How can I prevent or lower my risk of colorectal cancer?
- Should I have a colorectal cancer screening test?
- How do you get colorectal cancer?
- What tests are available and how do I prepare for them?
- What are the symptoms?
- If diagnosed with colorectal cancer, what are my treatment options?
- How can I prevent or lower my risk of colorectal cancer?
Interested in learning more? Visit www.HumanaNeighborhoodCenter.com to register for live and on-demand health education classes.
This is for informational purposes only and does not replace treatment or advice from a healthcare professional. If you have questions, please talk with your doctor. Talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise program or making any changes to your diet.
Sources
- “Colorectal Cancer Signs and Symptoms,” American Cancer Society, last accessed May 13, 2025, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-and-symptoms.html.
- “What is Colorectal Cancer,” American Cancer Society, last accessed May 13, 2025, www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/what-is-colorectal-cancer.html.
- “Can Colorectal Polyps and Cancer be found early?,” American Cancer Society, last accessed May 13, 2025, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/detection.html.
- “Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests,” American Cancer Society, last accessed May 13 2025, http://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/screening-tests-used.html.
- “Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors,” American Cancer Society, last accessed May 13, 2025, www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html.
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