Colon screening saves lives
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and the American Cancer Society (ACS) has some sobering news for us. According to its report issued March 1, 1 in 5 colon cancer diagnoses now occurs in people younger than 55 years old. The report also notes a trend toward more advanced disease in people of all ages. In 2023, the ACS estimates that of the 153,020 people diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the U.S., 52,550 will die from the disease. That’s 3 in 5 people.
The very best way to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer is to follow screening guidelines and get a stool-based test or a visual exam (a colonoscopy) when it’s recommended. Any suspicious polyps can be removed during a colonoscopy, thus preventing or reducing your risk of cancer.
Who should get screened?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that screening for men and women start at age 45 – not 50. The Task Force continues to strongly recommend screening people who are 50 to 75 years old. Adults ages 76 to 85 should talk to their doctor about screening.
What screening should I get?
Several screening tests are available to find polyps or colorectal cancer. Talking with your doctor about your family history and your medical condition will help you decide which option is best for you.
- At-home Stool Tests – stool samples are collected at home and sent away to a lab for analysis. The Cologuard test detects the DNA and blood released from altered cells and can detect both precancer and cancer. A Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is recommended annually, and Cologuard every three years if testing is negative. A positive Cologuard test results require a follow-up with colonoscopy.
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy – a procedure where a short, thin, flexible, lighted tube is inserted into your rectum to check for polyps or cancer inside the rectum and lower third of the colon. This procedure can be done with or without sedation. This should be done every 5 years, or every 10 years with a FIT test every year.
- Colonoscopy – a longer, thin, flexible, lighted tube is used to check for polyps or cancer inside the rectum and the entire colon. During the test, the doctor can find and remove most polyps and some cancers. Colonoscopies are also used to follow up on anything unusual found during one of the other screening tests. This procedure is done under a level of sedation or anesthesia that prevents you from feeling anything. This should be done every 10 years (for people who do not have an increased risk of colorectal cancer).
- Virtual Colonoscopy – a less invasive procedure, this is a special X-ray examination of the colon using low dose computed tomography (CT). A radiologist reviews the images from the virtual colonoscopy to look for polyps on the inside of the colon that can sometimes turn into colon cancer. This should be done every 5 years.
At-home Stool Tests – stool samples are collected at home and sent away to a lab for analysis. The Cologuard test detects the DNA and blood released from altered cells and can detect both precancer and cancer. A Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is recommended annually, and Cologuard every three years if testing is negative. A positive Cologuard test results require a follow-up with colonoscopy.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy – a procedure where a short, thin, flexible, lighted tube is inserted into your rectum to check for polyps or cancer inside the rectum and lower third of the colon. This procedure can be done with or without sedation. This should be done every 5 years, or every 10 years with a FIT test every year.
Colonoscopy – a longer, thin, flexible, lighted tube is used to check for polyps or cancer inside the rectum and the entire colon. During the test, the doctor can find and remove most polyps and some cancers. Colonoscopies are also used to follow up on anything unusual found during one of the other screening tests. This procedure is done under a level of sedation or anesthesia that prevents you from feeling anything. This should be done every 10 years (for people who do not have an increased risk of colorectal cancer).
Virtual Colonoscopy – a less invasive procedure, this is a special X-ray examination of the colon using low dose computed tomography (CT). A radiologist reviews the images from the virtual colonoscopy to look for polyps on the inside of the colon that can sometimes turn into colon cancer. This should be done every 5 years.
Ways to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer
Screening tests can prevent cancer or diagnose it early, when it’s most treatable. There are other ways to help reduce your risk. The ACS recommends the following:
- Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
- Get regular exercise
- Take control of your weight
- Don’t smoke
- Avoid alcohol
About the Author
Dr. Kueber (pronounced KEE-brr) joined the Clinic full time in March 2022. A graduate of Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine, he completed his residency in Family Practice at the Cleveland Clinic. He is board certified in Family Medicine. As an avid sportsman, he has a special interest in sports medicine and is a […]
More Recent Healthcare News
New Season. New Clinic. See What Awaits You.
October 9, 2026If you haven’t seen the new Boca Grande Health Clinic, here’s your chance to look inside! Join Director of Nursing Natalie Cole, R.N., for a behind-the-scenes video tour of the spaces, technology, and people helping us bring more healthcare right here to the island. Opened in May, the new Clinic offers advanced diagnostic imaging (including […]
Clinic Joins Community Cleanup Effort
September 25, 2026CEO Mark Driscoll and his wife, Suzanne, joined Registered Nurse Natalie Cole and her daughter, Campbell, along with other volunteers for the 2026 International Coastal Cleanup Day on Gasparilla Island on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Volunteers met at the Gasparilla Island Lighthouse in Boca Grande and covered miles of the island’s beaches and inland areas. […]
Step Inside Phase 2 of the Clinic of the Future
September 16, 2026Phase 2 of the Clinic of the Future is taking shape, and the former Clinic building looks very different these days. In a new video update, CEO Mark Driscoll takes you inside the renovation for a firsthand look at the progress, what’s coming next, and when you can expect the new spaces to be ready. […]
Find out how the new Boca Grande Health Clinic expanded what is possible for healthcare on the island. Webcam footage captured from outside the former Clinic building documents the construction from July 2025 through completion in May 2026. We invite you to watch it take shape from start to finish in this three-minute time-lapse video. […]