Visit Vale Health Marketplace?
You are leaving balladhealth.org to visit Vale Health’s Wellness Marketplace.
Disclaimer: Ballad Health does not sponsor, endorse or recommend any product or resource listed in the marketplace.
Colorectal cancer screening in TN and VA
Colorectal cancer affects the colon or rectum, and regular screening can find it early before it becomes more advanced.
Recent worldwide trends show that colon cancer is on the rise in those younger than 50 years old, which shows how important it is to get screened on a regular basis.
At Ballad Health, we make it easier to understand your colorectal screening options, including things like colonoscopies and at-home stool tests (FIT, gFOBT and stool DNA tests).
Not sure which colorectal cancer screening is right for you?
There are a variety of options when it comes to colorectal cancer screening. Your primary care provider can help you compare your options and choose a screening plan that works for you.
Book an appointment online
You can use our find-a-doctor tool to find your current primary care provider to schedule your next appointment, or find a new general doctor near you who can help you with your preventive screening options.
Need help getting started?
Our team can help you schedule a visit with a primary care provider to discuss colorectal cancer screening options. Complete our quick online form and we’ll reach out at your convenience.
What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer includes both colon cancer and rectal cancer. It starts in the colon or rectum, and it often begins as a polyp or small growth in the colon that can change over time.
This type of cancer often happens when cells in the colon or rectum start to grow out of control. There isn’t one single cause, but there are several risk factors.
Colorectal cancer risk factors
Colorectal cancer can happen for many reasons. Some risk factors are part of your health history, while others are connected to everyday habits. Having one or more risk factors doesn’t mean you will get colorectal cancer – it just means it’s worth speaking with a provider about a screening plan that works for you.
Health and family history
- Age: Your risk increases as you get older.
- Personal history of colon polyps: If you’ve had adenomatous polyps (adenomas) before, your provider may recommend a more personalized follow-up plan.
- Personal history of colorectal cancer: If you’ve had colorectal cancer before, your provider may recommend alternative next steps.
- Family history: Grandparents, parents or siblings with a colorectal cancer history or history of certain polyps can increase your risk and may affect when you should start screening.
- Inflammatory bowel disease: Long-term conditions like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease can increase risk and may require a different screening approach.
- Inherited conditions: Some genetic symptoms, like Lynch syndrome or Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), can greatly increase risk and usually call for a specialized screening plan.
Lifestyle and daily health
These factors can play a role in risk over time, and your provider can help you focus on realistic steps that fit your lifestyle.
- Excess body weight
- Not getting much physical activity
- Smoking
- Alcohol use
- Diet patterns, including diets higher in red or processed meats
When should I start screening?
For many adults at average risk, the USPSTF colon cancer screening recommendation is to start regular screening at age 45, with individual decisions needed for ages 76-85. If you’re at a higher risk, you may need to start earlier.
If you’re unsure, schedule an appointment with a primary care doctor to discuss your options.
Colorectal cancer screening options
Stool-based tests & samples
These tests check stool samples for signs of cancer, often described as testing for blood in stool or blood fecal. They’re easier to complete, but they need to be done more often.
Visual & structural exams
These tests look at the inside of your colon or rectum. Some options can also find and remove colorectal polyp growths during the exam, if needed.
At-home stool tests and stool samples
Stool DNA test (Cologuard test)
This test is commonly referred to as a stool DNA test or Cologuard test.
This test checks for both hidden blood and DNA changes that may be linked to colorectal cancer or polyps.
It can be done at home and uses a full stool sample.
How often: Every three years
Benefits
- No bowel prep needed
- No pre-test diet or medication changes needed
- Sampling is done at home
Limitations
- Can miss polyps and some cancers
- Can have false-positive test results
- A colonoscopy will be needed if an abnormal result is found
- Check your health plan for coverage of this test
FIT, or fecal immunochemical test
The FIT is an at-home stool test that checks for hidden blood in your stool, which can be a sign of colon polyps or colorectal cancer.
You collect a small sample at home and send it back for testing.
How often: Every year
Benefits
- No bowel prep needed
- No pre-test diet or medication changes needed
- Sampling done at home
- Fairly inexpensive to perform
Limitations
- Can miss polyps and some cancers
- Can have false-positive test results
- A colonoscopy will be needed if an abnormal result is found
gFOBT, or guaiac-based fecal occult blood test
The gFOBT is another at-home stool test that looks for hidden blood in your stool using a different testing method than FIT.
It’s simple to collect at home but may require diet changes before it can be taken.
How often: Every year
Benefits
- No bowel prep needed
- Sampling done at home
- Inexpensive
Limitations
- Can miss polyps and some cancers
- Can have false-positive test results
- Pre-test diet changes (and possibly medication changes) are needed
- A colonoscopy will be needed if an abnormal result is found
Visual and structural exams
CT colonography, or a virtual colonoscopy
A CT colonography uses CT imaging to create pictures of the inside of your colon to look for cancer or polyps.
A small tube is placed a short distance into the rectum to gently inflate the colon so clear images can be taken.
How often: Every 5 years
Benefits
- Quick imaging test
- Usually looks at the entire colon
- No sedation is needed
Limitations
- Can miss small polyps
- Full bowel prep is needed
- Can have some false-positive test results
- Exposure to a small amount of radiation
- Can’t remove polyps during testing
- A small amount of contrast needs to be ingested prior to the test
- Check with your health plan for coverage
- A colonoscopy will be needed if an abnormal result is found
Flexible sigmoidoscopy
A flexible sigmoidoscopy uses a thin, lighted tube to look inside the rectum and lower part of the colon.
It doesn’t examine the entire colon like a colonoscopy, but it can still screen for issues.
How often: Every five years
Benefits
- Usually doesn’t require full bowel prep
- Sedation is usually not used
Limitations
- Not widely used as a screening test
- Looks at only about a third of the colon
- Can miss small polyps
- Can’t remove all polyps
- May lead to some discomfort
- Very small risk of bleeding, infection or bowel tear
- A colonoscopy will be needed if abnormal result is found
Colonoscopy screening
A colonoscopy is a procedure where a clinician uses a thin, flexible tube with a light to look inside your rectum and entire colon. During the exam, your provider may also remove polyps or take small tissue samples.
How often: Every 10 years
Benefits
- Usually looks at the entire colon
- Can biopsy and remove polyps
- Helps find some other diseases
Limitations
- Can miss small polyps
- Full bowel prep is needed
- Costs more on a one-time basis than other forms of testing. However, this is frequently covered at 100% as a screening test. Check your coverage with your health plan to be sure
- Sedation is usually needed, and you’ll need someone to drive you home
- You may miss a couple of days of work
- Small risk of bleeding, bowel tears or infection
Frequently asked questions about colorectal cancer screening
Colorectal cancer screening means checking for colorectal cancer or warning signs of cancer before you have symptoms.
Commonly listed signs of colon cancer and colorectal cancer include:
- Rectal bleeding
- Blood in your stool or black or maroon stools
- Ongoing changes in bowl habits, such as diarrhea or constipation (greater than 2-3 weeks)
- Pencil thin stools
- Sensation of not being able to empty bowels fully
- Fatigue
- Belly pain or cramping
- Unexplained weight loss
If you experience any of these symptoms, please speak to your doctor as soon as possible.
There is an FDA-approved blood test for colon cancer that checks for tumor DNA fragments in the blood, but it has not been incorporated into the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations for colon cancer screening.
What people refer to as a “colon flush” or cleanse is not one of the recommended colorectal cancer screening strategies. If you want a true colon cancer test, talk with your provider about screening options.
If a stool-based test is abnormal, your doctor will usually recommend a colonoscopy as the next step. Speak with your provider about your unique screening needs.