Colon Cancer Screening

What are Colon Cancer Risk Factors?

Here’s what you need to know about risk factors linked to colon cancer–commonly referred to as colorectal cancer.

Which category do you fit into? Low, Increased or High Risk? Understanding your risk category can help you determine whether it’s time for a colorectal cancer screening. Lifestyle choices may also correlate with risk factors for developing colon cancer.

Low risk category

1. No prior colorectal cancer or precancerous polyps.
2. No parent, brother or sister, or child diagnosed with colorectal cancer or polyps.
3. No family members with cancers, like colorectal cancer, uterine, ovarian or other organs with cancer.

Increased risk category

The following criteria are linked with increased risk for developing colon cancer, according to the American Gastroenterological Association.

1. If you identify as Black American/African American.
2. Formerly diagnosed with IBD, like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
3. Previous diagnosis with Lynch syndrome, AKA hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer
   • With this particular type of cancer, it does not typically show large amounts of polyps — but often correlates with generational family history of colorectal cancer [AGA]

High-risk category

• Family history of colorectal cancer
  • Relatives like sibling, parent or child, under age 60 diagnosed with precancerous polyps
• Multiple relatives with colorectal cancer or precancerous polyps
• Colorectal cancer syndrome within family history
• Ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease may increase risk of colon cancer
  [Source: ASGE]]

Colonoscopy is the only test or screening for high-risk patients with family history of polyps or cancer.

Colon Cancer Screenings Can Detect Cancer

• Screenings help reduce cancer risk by up to 89%
• Plan to get screened every 10 years unless you have precancerous polyps, cancer diagnosis, IBD or family history

Colorectal Cancer Survival Rates Improve with Early Detection

• Early Detection – about 9 in 10 people survive 5 years or more with an early-stage colorectal cancer diagnosis – unless it has spread to other organs
• Later Detection—about 1 in 10 people survive 5 years with an advance stage colorectal cancer diagnosis that has spread to organs like the liver or lungs

Whether you need a screening or treatment to remove colon polyps, talk to our staff so you can book your appointment. Call us at 303.604.5000 today.

Don’t wait—book your screening today!