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Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable yet common cancers in America. To help prevent cancer in younger adults, it is recommended that at age 45 you talk to your primary care provider about being screened for colorectal cancer. At Trinity Health our team of dedicated primary care providers will help review your family history and risk factors. Once your history and risk factors are determined, we can help recommend an appropriate screening test for you.
What choices are there for colorectal cancer screening?
Trinity Health primary care providers can prescribe at-home tests for patients who are not at increased or high risk. Everyone is at average risk once they turn 45 and it’s better to be proactive than reactive. The at-home test is a stool test that will be non-invasive, quick and at no cost for most patients. The second type of test is one that your primary care provider will refer you to see our care team that is trained to perform a colonoscopy. Colonoscopies are a minimally invasive screening that is performed by our general surgeons or digestive health experts to check for the formation of polyps and cancer. Colonoscopies are often covered by most insurance companies.
Colorectal Cancer Screening Choices
| Colonoscopy | Stool DNA Test (Cologuard®) | Fecal Immunochemical Test ‡ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How does it work? | Uses a scope to look for and remove abnormal grown in the colon/rectum | Finds altered DNA and blood in the stool sample* | Detects blood in the stool samples* |
| Who is it for? | Adults at high or average risk† | Adults 45+ at average risk† | Adults at average risk† |
| How often? | Every 10 years | Every 3 years | Once a year |
| Non-invasive? | No | Yes, used at home | Yes, used at home |
| Prep required? | Yes, full bowel prep including fasting and laxatives | No | No |
| Time it takes? | 1-2 days for bowel prep and procedure | The time it takes to collect a sample | The time it takes to collect a sample |
| Insurance Covered? | Covered by most insurers§ | Covered by most insurers§ | Covered by most insurers§ |
| After a positive result? | Polyps removed and examined (Biopsy) | A colonoscopy is needed | A colonoscopy is needed |
* All positive results on non-colonoscopy screening tests should be followed up with timely colonoscopy. † For adults at high risk, testing may be more frequent and should be discussed with your healthcare provider. ‡ FIT does not require changes to diet or medication. FOBT requires changes to diet or medication. § Insurance coverage can vary; only your insurer can confirm how CRC screening is covered under your insurance policy. |
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Who should get screened?
All adults at age 45 should get screened for colorectal cancer because they are at average risk. Patients should prioritize finding a primary care provider so the provider can better understand risk factors and family history. This will help form a plan to identify how early you should be screened. People at high risk may need to get screened earlier than age 45. For people ages 76 through 86, the decision to be screened should be up to their preference, overall health, life expectancy and prior screening history.
Need a primary care provider?
For help finding a provider by phone, call 701-857-3748.
