Can Colorectal Polyps and Cancer Be Found Early?

Colorectal cancer can often be found early with screening tests. Screening is the process of looking for cancer or precancer in people who have no symptoms of the disease. Colonoscopy, a colorectal cancer screening test, can even prevent colorectal cancer by finding polyps before they turn into cancer.

Screening for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in the United States. But the death rate (the number of deaths per 100,000 people per year) for colorectal cancer has been dropping for several decades.

Regular colorectal cancer screening is one of the most powerful tools against colorectal cancer.

Why is colorectal cancer screening important?

Finding colorectal cancer early

Screening can often find colorectal cancer early, when it’s small, hasn’t spread, and might be easier to treat.

Colorectal cancer prevention

Regular screening can even prevent colorectal cancer. A polyp can take as many as 10 to 15 years to develop into cancer. With a colonoscopy, doctors can find and remove polyps before they have the chance to turn into cancer.

Polyp removal during screening

One reason the death rate for colorectal cancer has improved is that colorectal polyps are more often found by screening and removed before they can develop into cancers.

Who should get screened?

The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45. People at higher risk might need to start earlier.

Unfortunately, about 1 in 3 people in the United States who should get tested for colorectal cancer have never been screened. This may be because they don’t know that regular testing could save their lives from this disease, or due to things like cost and health insurance coverage issues.

Learn more about who should be screened in American Cancer Society Guideline for Colorectal Screening. Talk to your health care provider about which tests might be good options for you, and check with your insurance provider about your coverage.

See Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests for more information about the tests used to colorectal cancer and polyps.