Colon Cancer Screening

Awareness and Prevention

Women and men over the age of 45 are at an increased risk for colon cancer. Having regular screening tests beginning at age 45 could save your life. Screening can find precancerous polyps (abnormal growths in the colon or rectum) so they can be removed before turning into cancer. Screening can find colorectal cancer at an early stage, when treatment often leads to a cure.

The best way to reduce your colorectal cancer risk is to get screened regularly beginning at age 45.

You may need to be tested earlier than 45, or more often than other people, if you have:

• Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
• A personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps.
• A genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome).

If you think you are at increased risk for colorectal cancer, speak with your doctor about:

• When to begin screening.
• Which test is right for you.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, and Nebraska ranks 41st for screening rates, but we can do better. Get screened today!​