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Colon cancer screening

Finding colon cancer early could save your life. Doctors recommend getting your first colon cancer screening test at age 45. Schedule an appointment at 1-702-933-1388.

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Colorectal (large intestine) screening: It’s not that bad

 

 

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We know, it's easy for us to say. But you know what is that bad?

 

 

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Letting colorectal cancer go undetected when it can be cured.

 

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Did you know?

Colon (large intestine) cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and women.

It's also the fourth leading cause of deaths related to cancer in the U.S.

 

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A colorectal screening is key to stopping colon cancer.

 

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Getting the suggested screenings could stop at least 6 out of 10 deaths from people with colorectal cancer.

 

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You have choices

You and your doctor can decide which test is best for you.

 

 

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Colonoscopy

 

 

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This screening is done under sedation. It works well for finding cancer early.

Done every 10 years.*

Can find up to 95% of cancers.

*This suggestion may change if results are abnormal.

 

 

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Cologuard® Collection Kit

 

 

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This is a simple, noninvasive screening test. The kit will be shipped directly to your home. Then you mail your sample to the lab.

Done every 3 years.*

Can find 92% of cancers and 69% of high-risk precancers.

*This suggestion may change if results are abnormal.

 

 

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FIT

 

 

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Like Cologuard®, FIT (short for “fecal immunochemical test”) is a home stool test. This is also mailed to a lab once done.

Done once a year.*

Can find 70–80% of cancers.

*This suggestion may change if results are abnormal.

 

 

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Talk to your doctor about which screening is right for you.

 

 

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To schedule an appointment, call 1-702-933-1383, TTY 711, or scan the QR code to visit our website for more information.

 

 

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1. U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. U.S. Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations Tool, based on 2022 submission date (1999-2020): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute; released in November 2023 https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/uscs/dataviz/index.htm

©2024 Optum, Inc. All rights reserved. 23600-04 03/24

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What you need to know

Colorectal (colon) cancer starts in the colon or rectum. It usually begins as a polyp, which is a clump of abnormal cells. Over time, some polyps can turn into cancer. Colon cancer affects men and women, and chances of getting it increase as you get older. 

The statistics speak for themselves:

  • Colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and women and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S.1
  • 51,000 Americans die from colon cancer every year.
  • Getting recommended screenings could prevent at least 60% of these deaths.
  • 33% of people ages 50 to 75 in the U.S. haven't been screened for colon cancer.2
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Start getting screened at age 45

Screenings look for cancer before you have symptoms. This helps find problems earlier, when they're easier to treat. We offer 3 screenings.

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Colonoscopy is best for finding cancer early

This is done by a doctor at a testing center. Any polyps found are removed during the test. Normal results are good for 10 years.

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Cologuard® finds 92% of cancers

This at-home test is a good choice if you can't have a colonoscopy. You mail a stool sample to a lab. Normal results are good for 3 years.

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A FIT test finds 70% to 80% of cancers

You do this simple, low-cost test at home, then mail a stool sample to a lab. Normal results are good for 1 year. 

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Facts and fears about colonoscopies

The most effective way to lower your chances of getting colon cancer is getting recommended screenings, especially a colonoscopy. Even so, many people put off getting screened. Reasons include fear, embarrassment and concerns about cost. So it's good to know that:

  • A colonoscopy takes only 30 minutes or so.
  • It's the best way to stop colon cancer.
  • Preparing for it isn't fun but it's important.
  • Most insurance plans cover colonoscopies.
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Your health and family history play a role in colon cancer

Your health and family history could increase your chances of getting colon cancer, for example, having a close relative with colon cancer. This may mean you need to get screened even before age 45. So be sure to talk with your doctor. Questions to ask include:

  • Why do I need a screening?
  • What type of screening do I need?
  • What will a screening test tell me?
  • How often will I need to be screened? 

Download checklist

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6 questions to ask your doctor

  • Talk to your doctor if you notice:

    • Discomfort in your stomach area
    • Blood in your bowel movement
    • Changes in your bowel movement, such as thickness and texture
    • Weight loss that you can't explain
    OR

  • Your chances of getting colon cancer can be affected by certain things, such as:

    • Your age3
    • A family member with colon cancer
    • Inflammatory bowel disease, like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis; these conditions affect the lining in your gut
    • A problem with your genes, which determine what traits are passed down from parents to a child
    • Black Americans are most likely to get colon cancer and die from it4
    OR

  • Men and women should get their first colon cancer screening at age 45. Around the time you turn 45, talk with your doctor about the screening that's best for you. Then schedule it. If you're in good health, continue screenings through age 75.

    If you're between 76 and 85, talk with your doctor about your options. Screenings are not recommended for people over 85. 

    OR

  • We offer the following screening tests.


    Colonoscopy

    This low-risk test is done by a doctor and takes 45 minutes or less. The night before your exam, you drink a formula to clear out your bowels. This will give your doctor a clear view of your colon.

    The day of your exam, you'll be given a sedative to make you feel sleepy. Then your doctor will insert a lighted tube into your rectum. This lets your doctor see if you have any polyps.

    Benefits:

    • Most polyps and some cancers can be removed during the test
    • Helps find cancer earlier and improve care outcomes
    • A normal test is good for 10 years


    Cologuard Collection Kit (stool DNA test)

    This simple screening test is done at home. It looks for changes in your DNA and for blood in the stool. You collect a stool sample when it's convenient for you, then mail it back to a lab in a prepaid UPS envelope.

    Benefits:

    • A good choice if colonoscopy isn't an option
    • Testing is done from the comfort of your home
    • Finds 92% of cancers and 69% of high-risk precancers
    • A normal test is good for 3 years


    Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)

    This test checks for blood in your stool and is done at home. Simply swab a sample of your stool with a special brush, smear it on a card, then send it to a lab.

    Benefits:

    • Low cost and low risk
    • Testing is done from the comfort of your home
    • Finds 70% to 80% of cancers
    • A normal test is good for 1 year

    For more information about screening tests, see Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests.

    OR

  • If you have a close family member with colon cancer, like a parent, brother or sister, be sure let your doctor know about this. It means you should be screened at an earlier age.

    Your doctor might suggest getting screened 10 years earlier than the age your relative was diagnosed. For example, if a parent was diagnosed with colon cancer at 42, you might need to get your first screening when you're 32.5

    OR

  • Getting screened early is the best way to lower your chances of having colon cancer. But there are also steps you can take, for example:

    • Cut down on heavy drinking
    • Be more active
    • Eat healthy
    • Stop smoking
    • Watch your weight

    Colon cancer can be stopped when it's caught early. So take charge of your health and talk to your doctor about screening tests. 

    OR
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Sources:

  1. U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. U.S. Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations Tool, based on 2022 submission data (1999-2020): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute; released in November 2023. 
  2. Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Use of Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests. Last reviewed March 22, 2023. Accessed February 14, 2024. 
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What Are the Risk Factors for Colon Cancer? Last reviewed February 23, 2023. Accessed February 14, 2024. 
  4. American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Rates Higher in African Americans, Rising in Younger People. Last revised September 3, 2020. Accessed February 14, 2024. 
  5. National Institutes of Health. Colorectal cancer screening for patients with a family history of colorectal cancer or adenomas. November 2019. Accessed February 14, 2024.