What are the early symptoms? How often do I need to be tested for colon cancer?
Three organizations have guidelines about colon cancer testing in the U.S.: • Preventive Services Task Force, or USPSTF (a panel of health experts from many different medical backgrounds) • American Cancer Society (a panel of cancer experts) • American College of Gastroenterology (a panel of experts in diseases of the colon and gastrointestinal system) These groups have slightly different recommendations. Here’s what I recommend to my patients, and to you. Everyone should be tested for colon cancer beginning at age 50. The USPSTF says the evidence of a continued benefit from testing ends at age 75. Other organizations recommend testing after age 75. There are different ways to test for colon cancer. The two recommended by all three organizations are colonoscopy and testing for blood in the stool. Colonoscopy is the more accurate test. And if any precancerous growths (adenomas) are found during the test, they can be removed. However, colonoscopy has unpleasant aspects, including the pro
