Video: What you should know about colon and rectal cancer Share Facebook Twitter Print details If you're 50+, it's one of the best gifts you can give yourself: A colorectal cancer screening appointment. If you're under 50 with certain health risks, it's also a crucial call to make. Take a minute to learn the most important factors to consider if you're not sure whether it's time for your screening. Together, you and your care team can catch early cell changes before they become cancerous. Mostrar la transcripción What you should know about colon and rectal cancer Colon and rectal cancers are among the top 5 cancers for men and women. The good news. Thanks to better screening and less smoking, fewer people are dying from colorectal cancers. Screening can stop colorectal cancer. Early testing detects polyps before they become cancer. Start getting screened at age 50. Go earlier with risk factors like family history. Most people need a repeat every 10 years. Some groups are at higher risk. If you are of African American or American Indian descent, talk to your doctor. Colonoscopy is the most sensitive test. A doctor can check for polyps and remove them at the same time. Colonoscopy requires sedation. So get someone to drive you home after the procedure. DNA testing can be an alternative. A stool sample goes to the lab for testing, but some people require follow-up colonoscopy. Ask your doctor. Every test has pros and cons, but weighing your personal risk factors will help. Expert guidance from the doctors, nurses and specialists for cancer care at Mayo Clinic.Get more healthy action tips delivered daily when you download the Mayo Clinic app. Mostrar referencias Tests to detect colorectal cancer and polyps. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/types/colorectal/screening-fact-sheet. Accessed March 9, 2017. VID-20314195