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CRC Screening
When detected early, 90% of colorectal cancers (CRCs) can be treated and cured.1 But CRC usually
causes no symptoms in these early stages.1 Screening is often the only way to detect early-stage CRC.
The American Cancer Society recommends that beginning at age 50, men and women should follow one of the
options below to test for CRC2,3:
- Yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT; a test that you can do at home to detect blood in the stool)
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years (the doctor places a thin, lighted tube into the lower part of the colon through the rectum)
- Yearly FOBT plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years*
- Colonoscopy every 10 years (similar to a flexible sigmoidoscopy, but the tube is longer so the doctor can see the entire colon)
- Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years (a chalky substance is used to partly fill and open up the colon and then air is pumped
in to expand the colon so that X-rays can be taken)
People with a personal or family history of CRC or polyps or a personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel
disease may benefit from earlier or more frequent screening and should talk to their doctor.2
Click here for information on screening with the Clearview ULTRA
FOB Test.
* This combination is preferred over either method alone.
References
- American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2004. Available at:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/STT/stt_0.asp.
Accessed November 29, 2004.
- Smith RA, Cokkinides V, Eyre HJ. American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer, 2003. CA
Cancer J Clin. 2003;53:27-43.
- American Cancer Society. Overview: Colon and Rectum Cancer. How Is Colorectal Cancer Found? Available at:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_1x.asp?rnav=criov&dt=10.
Accessed November 29, 2004.
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