When to get a colonoscopy: The American Cancer Society recommends people of average risk begin screening at age 45. After your initial screening, most people will not need another colonoscopy for 10 years. You and your doctor will decide the appropriate screening schedule for you.
Current guidelines suggest that you should get your first colonoscopy at age 45 if you are at average risk for colorectal cancer. If no polyps are found during your initial colonoscopy, then you wouldn't need your next colonoscopy for another 10 years. Regular screenings are recommended from age 45 through 75.
Answer From Michael F. Picco, M.D. There's no upper age limit for colon cancer screening. But most medical organizations in the United States agree that the benefits of screening decline after age 75 for most people and there's little evidence to support continuing screening after age 85.
Colonoscopies. Medicare covers screening colonoscopies once every 24 months if you're at high risk for colorectal cancer. If you aren't at high risk, Medicare covers the test once every 120 months, or 48 months after a previous flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Regular screening, beginning at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer and finding it early. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force) recommends that adults age 45 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer. The Task Force recommends that adults age 76 to 85 talk to their doctor about screening.
During a colonoscopy, the doctor inserts a colonoscope into your rectum to check for abnormalities in your entire colon. A colonoscopy (koe-lun-OS-kuh-pee) is an exam used to look for changes — such as swollen, irritated tissues, polyps or cancer — in the large intestine (colon) and rectum.
Everyone's experience is different, but you can rest assured that the colonoscopy itself is painless. You will receive anesthesia so that you don't feel pain or remember the procedure. Most centers use medications that stop working quickly. That means you shouldn't feel any lingering side effects.
Fecal immunochemical test (FIT): This is an inexpensive, at-home, stool-based test that looks for proteins found in the blood. Blood in the stool could be a sign of colon cancer, and a positive FIT test would signal that you need to get a colonoscopy.
Australians aged 50 to 74 at average risk of bowel cancer (e.g. without symptoms, family history or precursor conditions) are urged to participate in Australia's National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
Do not shave your abdomen (stomach) or pubic hair. Shaving before your surgery gives you a higher chance of getting an infection. A person from the health-care team will use clippers to get you ready for surgery if hair needs to be removed.
Almost all colonoscopies in the United States are performed with patients under a level of sedation or anesthesia that prevents them from feeling anything. Often, patients are asleep for the entire procedure.
Early-stage colon cancer often does not present any signs or symptoms — which is why regular screening is critical, especially for patients who have risk factors or a family history of the disease.
Signs and symptoms
The 3 main symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in the stools (faeces), changes in bowel habit – such as more frequent, looser stools – and abdominal (tummy) pain. However, these symptoms are very common and most people with them do not have bowel cancer.
Most colorectal cancers start as a growth on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. These growths are called polyps. Some types of polyps can change into cancer over time (usually many years), but not all polyps become cancer. The chance of a polyp turning into cancer depends on the type of polyp it is.
Sometimes colon cancer can cause fatigue due to internal blood loss from the disease. In many cases, the symptoms of colon cancer are connected. Other colon cancer symptoms, such as unintentional weight loss and a change in bowel habits, can increase the feeling of weakness.
Many cases of colon cancer have no symptoms. If there are symptoms, the following may indicate colon cancer: Abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen.
iFOBT screening is recommended for the majority of Australians, with modest or no family history, from age 50 years. Depending on the strength of the family history, it is recommended to start iFOBT screening from age 35 or 45 years (ie, up to 15 years younger) before transitioning to colonoscopy after 10 years.
2023 Screening Recommendations
Recent screening guidelines recommend anyone with an average risk of developing colorectal cancer should be screened starting at age 45. Screening guidelines by age are: 45-75 — colonoscopy every 10 years for average-risk patients.
A colonoscopy is the best way to diagnose and prevent bowel cancer. For most people it is a straightforward test. However, as with most medical tests, complications may occur. If you are at average or slightly above average risk of bowel cancer, screening every two years is recommended.