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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.

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.

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: https://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: https://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.
 
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