SCREENING COLORECTAL CANCER is the 2nd most common cancer in both sexes - one in 20 individuals will develop the disease in his or her lifetime. How ever. it is also one of the most preventable cancers. Thus. regular screening is important, especially for those at risk.

Who is at risk?

The risk of colorectal cancer increases with age. More than 85% of colorectal cancers occur in individuals age above 50. Those with a personal history of breast, uterine (womb) or ovarian cancer and a family history of polyps or colorectal cancer face a higher risk with the likelihood of developing colorectal cancer at an earlier age.

Screening for colorectal cancer

The majority of colon and rectal cancers begins from non-cancerous (benign) growths called polyps. Removal of these polyps will prevent colorectal cancers in most cases. Undergoing appropriate screening for early detection is the key to preventing colorectal cancer.

For average-risk men and women who have none of the above-mentioned risk factors, screening should begin at the age of 40 to 45.		For men and women in the high-risk group, colonoscopy screening should be done every 5 years.
Method of screening Screening interval Test of blood in the stool Repeated every year, if results are normal. If tested positive for blood in the stool colonoscopy is recommended Barium enema (x-ray examination of colon and return) Repeated every 5 to 10 years. If results are normal Colonoscopy (examination of the large intestine with a colonoscope) Repeated every 10 years. If the results are normal
Risk Factors Colonoscopy screening intervals
A family history of colorectal cancer before the age 50 Colonoscopy screening should begin at about the age of 40, or 10 years younger than the age of the youngest affected family member at the time of diagnosis, whichever is earlier. Women who have a history of cancer of the breast, womb or ovary. If polyps are found and removed, colonoscopy should be repeated every 1 to 3 years. If the colonoscopy results are normal, it should be repeated every 3 to 5 years.   Colonoscopy screening, starting at the age of 40, should be repeated every 3 to 5 years.