If you still think colon cancer screening starts at age 50, you’re not alone. For years, that was the standard recommendation established by medical societies. But today, that’s changed — current guidelines recommend age 45 as the time when adults at average risk for colon cancer should begin regular colorectal cancer screenings.
Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone who turns 45 needs a colonoscopy. Several screening options are available, and the right choice depends on your personal risk factors, health history, and any previous screenings you’ve had.
So, how can you tell if you need a colonoscopy once you reach 45? Our team at Desert West Surgery has the answer.
If you’re familiar with the recommendation for beginning colon cancer screenings at age 50, you’re probably wondering why the age has been lowered. The reason is simple: Colorectal cancer is becoming more common among younger adults — even as rates have declined among older adults.
One of the major problems with colon cancer is that, even though it’s highly treatable in its early stages, it rarely causes symptoms at that point. Instead, most people don’t notice any symptoms at all until the tumor has grown large enough to interfere with normal bowel habits or even invaded other parts of the body.
Colon cancer screening looks for very subtle changes that happen early on. With a colonoscopy specifically, our team uses a special scope to visualize your colon and remove tiny growths — called polyps — at the same time, significantly reducing your risk of developing colon cancer later.
While 45 is the recommended age to start screening for anyone with average risk of colon cancer, that doesn’t mean a colonoscopy is the only option — nor does it mean you shouldn’t begin screening earlier.
For example, some people may benefit from a stool-based test you can perform at home. One big disadvantage is that if early symptoms are detected, you’ll still need a colonoscopy to look for precancerous polyps or signs of other problems.
On the other hand, if you have a family history of colon cancer or other factors that elevate your risk of developing colon cancer, a colonoscopy is almost always the recommended screening choice.
This is because a colonoscopy provides visual evidence of your colon health, enabling us to look for polyps or other changes that could be associated with an early stage of cancer.
A colonoscopy also allows us to take tiny tissue samples for further evaluation in a lab. These samples are essential when we notice an unusual tissue change other than a polyp, giving us the opportunity to screen not only for cancer, but for other issues that can cause serious problems such as inflammatory bowel disease.
One more important caveat: The age 45 recommendation is for people with an average risk of colon cancer. If you have risk factors, like a family history of colon cancer, guidelines recommend you begin screening at an earlier age, based on your doctor’s recommendations.
While people at average risk can wait 10 years between colonoscopies or 3-5 years before other types of testing, people with risk factors for cancer may need to be screened more frequently — typically every five years for a colonoscopy.
If you’re past your 45th birthday and still haven’t had a colon cancer screening, don’t assume it’s too late to start. Scheduling your screening now and following your personal screening recommendations is the best way to evaluate your colon health and take a major step toward reducing your risk of colon cancer in the future.
To learn more about colon cancer screening and whether a colonoscopy is the best option for you, call Desert West Surgery and schedule a visit at the Las Vegas location nearest you.
