Who should be screened for colorectal cancer?

By Jason Howland

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Colorectal cancer cannot be totally prevented, but regular screening can lower your risk.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society encourage patients to start screening for colorectal cancer at age 45. John Kisiel, M.D., a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist, also says people should begin screening at 45. He recommends checking with your health care team about your risks, and with your insurance provider about your coverage.

Watch this video to hear Dr. Kisiel discuss colorectal cancer screening:

Men are more likely than women to get colorectal cancer, and rates of colorectal cancer are higher in Black Americans, American Indians and Alaskan Native adults.

"African Americans are often diagnosed with either more advanced disease or may have more aggressive disease when they are diagnosed, and that's matched stage for stage," says Dr. Kisiel.

He says research shows that Black patients often face discrimination in accessing screening services or optimal cancer treatment.

Colorectal cancer risk factors also include family history, inherited syndromes, diabetes, smoking, diet and age.

"It is a condition that is most commonly diagnosed around age 67, but the risk continues to advance with age," says Dr. Kisiel.

He advocates for regular screening and says if the disease is diagnosed early, it is highly treatable. If it's diagnosed later, a cure is less likely. "Colon cancer has been called the most fatal, yet most preventable, disease," says Dr. Kisiel.

For those uncomfortable with a colonoscopy or a stool-based test, Dr. Kisiel offers this: "Colon cancer can kill you. Embarrassment will not."

Learn more

Learn more about colon and rectal cancer.

Also, read these articles:

• "Colorectal cancer myths and facts"
• "Gen Z and Millennials: Do you know the signs of early-onset colorectal cancer?"
• "Dear Mayo Clinic: Advances in screening for colon cancer"

A version of this article was originally published on the Mayo Clinic News Network.