When to See a Doctor
If you notice any bleeding in your stool, see your doctor right away. Additionally, if you have ongoing digestive symptoms, don’t ignore them. Talk to a healthcare professional who can help you determine the cause.
Once you describe symptoms to your doctor, they will likely give you a medical exam.
The doctor will likely question you about your medical history and ask if you have any risk factors for colorectal cancer, including a family history of the disease, a history of colorectal cancer or precancerous polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Other risk factors may include obesity or excess weight, a low level of physical activity, heavy alcohol use, and smoking.
Once the doctor has your medical history, the next step might be a physical exam.
The doctor may also examine your rectum by placing a gloved and lubricated finger inside to feel for any abnormalities. They may order certain tests, including blood tests and imaging tests.
You may also leave the doctor’s office with a prescription for a diagnostic colonoscopy, during which a gastroenterologist examines the inside of the colon and rectum via a device inserted through the anus: a long, thin, and flexible lighted tube with a tiny video camera at the end.
If the exam reveals any suspicious growths, the gastroenterologist can remove tissue for a biopsy to determine whether or not there are any cancer cells.
Even if you don’t have symptoms, it’s important to get screened for colorectal cancer at the appropriate time. People who do not have risk factors for colon cancer should get screened regularly starting at age 45. This may be done through a variety of tests, including stool-based tests every three years, a colonoscopy every 10 years, computed tomographic colonography (rarely used) or sigmoidoscopy (rarely used) every five years, or a blood test every three years.
These screenings include both in-clinic and at-home options.
People with a family or personal history of colorectal cancer, as well as those who are at an increased risk of the disease, need to start screening earlier and should get tested more often. Your doctor will discuss testing options, as well as when you should start and how frequently you should get tested.
