It’s important to catch colorectal cancer in its early stages. When you find and treat colon cancer and rectal cancer early, treatment is more likely to be successful and less invasive. That’s why screening is so important.
At Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, colorectal cancer patients receive personalized testing, treatment and support from our team of experts. If you are experiencing colorectal cancer symptoms or are at high risk, contact us to schedule an appointment.
Screening guidelines for colorectal cancer
Screening tests looks for signs of colorectal cancer in people who don’t have symptoms, while diagnostic tests are used when colorectal cancer is suspected. Sometimes, the same tests are used for screening and for diagnosis.
You should start screening for colon and rectal cancers at age 45, or younger if you’re at higher risk.
Options include:
- Colonoscopy: A test that uses a camera attached to a long, flexible tube to see the inside of the colon and rectum and to remove polyps if needed. Colonoscopies are recommended every 10 years for a detailed exam, since it usually takes 10 to 15 years for polyps to become cancerous. This procedure is usually done under anesthesia, and you’ll need to fully empty your bowels the day before with “prep” treatments. These preps have gotten much easier, and most people can continue to go to work the same day or next day.
- FIT-DNA test (stool DNA test): This non-invasive test shows if you have abnormal DNA or blood in your stool. You can take this test at home and drop it off at a lab. It’s recommended every three years.
- Fecal occult blood test (FOBT): This is also a non-invasive test that looks for blood in the stool. It’s recommended yearly and can similarly be dropped off in a lab.
- cfDNA blood-based test: This non-invasive test looks for cancer DNA in the bloodstream. It is recommended every three years.
If you’re age 75 or older, you can talk to your provider about the screenings you need. Banner MD Anderson does not recommend screening after age 85.
How is colorectal cancer diagnosed?
If your provider suspects colorectal cancer, they may recommend tests to help with diagnosing it. Various tests can examine your colon and rectum and determine whether you have cancer and, if so, how advanced it is:
- Colonoscopy to check the colon and rectum for polyps. Polyps can be removed during a colonoscopy (biopsied) so they can be examined under a microscope.
- Blood tests to measure blood cells and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels that may mean cancer is more likely, and to check your overall health.
- Imaging tests like PET, MRI and CT scans to help diagnose and stage colorectal cancer.
- Molecular and gene testing to identify mutations that can guide treatment decisions.
Stages of colorectal cancer
Cancer can spread into the wall of the colon or rectum. Over time, it can reach blood vessels or lymph nodes and spread further to other parts of the body.
If your provider diagnoses colon cancer or rectal cancer, they will evaluate how advanced it is and assign it a cancer stage. Lower numbers mean the cancer is in an earlier stage while higher numbers mean it is later stage and may have spread to other areas. The stage can help guide treatment decisions:
- Stage 0 (in situ): Cancer is confined to the colon lining and usually treated by removing the polyps.
- Stage 1: Cancer has spread to only the shallower layers of the colon or rectum and is usually removed surgically.
- Stage 2: Cancer has spread into the deeper layers of the colon or rectum wall and is treated with surgery and possibly chemotherapy.
- Stage 3: Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and may need treatment with surgery, chemotherapy and sometimes radiation.
- Stage 4: Cancer has spread to distant organs or other parts of the body and may need surgery and chemotherapy.
Based on your diagnosis, type of cancer, stage and other factors, your health care provider will recommend treatment options.
Learn about treatment for colon cancer and rectal cancer.
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