When to Start Screening: If you are between 45 and- 75 years of age, you should be screened for colorectal cancer.
You are in the average risk group if you:
Learn more about risk factors and how to reduce them here.
Risk factors and when to get screened:
If you have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) who has had CRC, you should start screenings 10 years prior to when your relative was diagnosed. Talk to your healthcare provider about scheduling a colonoscopy.
Genetic syndromes like Lynch syndrome or FAP require close monitoring to remain cancer free. Talking with a genetic counselor can help.
Had polyps removed before? Depending on the type and number, you might need another colonoscopy in about 3 years, maybe sooner or later.
After cancer surgery, most people start regular colonoscopies about a year later.
If you had radiation treatment, you should start screening 10 years later or at age 35, whichever comes last. You might also need screenings more often, like every 3-5 years.
If you have been diagnosed with something like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, start getting colonoscopies around 8 years after diagnosis, and then every 1-3 years depending on your results.
“I firmly believe that early detection is key. Listening to your body is crucial—you know it better than anyone else, and if something doesn’t seem right, get it checked! I can’t even imagine how my health would be now if I had never gotten that colonoscopy in 2009.”
Information on these pages is provided for educational purposes only. Consult your physician before making any medical decisions.
