Colorectal Cancer Screening Exams

How often you get tested for colon cancer and rectal cancer depends on your chances for getting the disease.

Having one or more risks for colorectal cancer does not mean you will definitely get the disease. It means that you may be more likely to get colorectal cancer. If you are at increased or high risk for colorectal cancer, you may need to start screening exams at an earlier age or be tested more often. Look at the lists below to find out if you are at average, increased or high risk for colorectal cancer.

Average Risk

Men and women at average risk of colorectal cancer include those who have:

No personal history of colorectal cancer or precancerous colon polyps (adenomas)
No family history of colorectal cancer or precancerous colon polyps (adenomas)
No personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (chronic ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)
No personal history of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis or suspected Familial Adenomatous Polyposis without yet having undergone genetic testing
No personal history of Hereditary Nonpolyposis colorectal cancer or a family history of Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer

See screening guidelines for men and women at average risk.

Increased Risk

Men and women at increased risk have a higher chance of getting colorectal cancer than those at average risk. Men and women at increased risk include those who have a:

Personal history of precancerous colon polyps (adenomas)
Personal history of colorectal cancer
Family history of colorectal cancer or precancerous polyps (adenomas), meaning that a family member had or has colorectal cancer or precancerous polyps

See screening guidelines for men and women at increased risk.

High Risk

Men and women at high risk for colorectal cancer have a greater chance of getting the disease than those at increased risk. This includes those who have a:

Personal history of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis or suspected Familial Adenomatous Polyposis without yet having undergone genetic testing
Personal history of Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer or family history of Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer
Inflammatory bowel disease (chronic ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)

See screening guidelines for men and women at high risk.