Beginning at age 50, both men and women at average risk for developing colorectal cancer should use one of the screening tests below:
Tests That Find Polyps and Cancer
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years*
- Colonoscopy every 10 years
- Double contrast barium enema every 5 years*
- CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years*
Tests That Mainly Find Cancer
- Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) every year*,**
- Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year*,**
- Stool DNA test (sDNA), interval uncertain*
*Colonoscopy should be done if test results are positive.
**For gFOBT or FIT used as a screening test, the take-home multiple sample method should be used. A gFOBT or FIT done during a digital rectal exam in the doctor's office is not adequate for screening.
Read the full guidelines in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians
