Colonscopy for Colon Cancer Screening

Have you had your colonoscopy?

• baseline if 50 years of age
• history of colon cancer in family
• personal history of colon polyps, cancer
• rectal bleeding
• have a disease that is a risk like Crohn's disease
• chronic abdominal pain
• rapid unexplained weight loss

Check with your primary care physician. You will then be directed to your gastroenterologist (GI doctor, for short) for a complete evaluation. Ask your PCP for occult blood stool cards to take home to check for blood in the stools.

The Hemoccult test checks for blood that is not detected by the human eye. After you complete your stool sample cards, return to your PCP by mail or in person. They will be checked by your doctor. Any GI exam without this test and/or a rectal is incomplete.

Best health!

J.L. Richardson, MD is a family medicine doctor, patient advocate, author and publisher of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.