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Colorectal Cancer Screenings

Colorectal cancer affects both men and women and is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. But colorectal cancer can often be successfully treated when detected early, before it has spread.

Who’s at Risk?

Anyone can get colon cancer, but it’s much more common in people over age 50. People of any age are at higher risk of developing colon cancer if they have a personal history of:

  • Colorectal polyps
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • People of any age with family history of:
    • Colorectal polyps
    • Colorectal cancer
    • Familiar adenomatus polyps (FAP)
    • Hereditary non-polypsis colon cancer (HNPCC)

People at higher risk for colorectal cancer should talk with their doctor about a more stringent screening schedule, including regular colonoscopy. We offer colonoscopies at TriPoint Medical Center, Lake West Medical Center and Mentor Health Center.

Providers Offering Colorectal Cancer Screenings

Ahmad Ascha, MD image

Ahmad Ascha, MD

Gordon Bodzin, MD image

Gordon Bodzin, MD

Lake Health Physician Group SOM Center Surgery

Don Brinberg, MD image

Don Brinberg, MD

Emily Carey, DO image

Emily Carey, DO

Keith Friedenberg, MD image

Keith Friedenberg, MD

Karen Grassie, MD, FACS image

Karen Grassie, MD, FACS

Lake Health Physician Group Concord General Surgery

Patrick Huck, MD image

Patrick Huck, MD

Lake Health Physician Group SOM Center Surgery

Sayed Khatami, MD image

Sayed Khatami, MD

Chardon Health Center Timeshare

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Keyur Parikh, MD image

Keyur Parikh, MD

Chardon Health Center Timeshare

Timothy Pritchard, MD image

Timothy Pritchard, MD

Lake Health Physician Group Mentor General Surgery

Trevor Teetor, MD image

Trevor Teetor, MD

Lake Health Physician Group Mentor General Surgery

Screening Guidelines

Screening recommendations for people age 45 and over

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults age 45 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer. Your doctor might recommend earlier screening if you’re at higher risk.  There are several screening tests available, in two main groups:

  • Stool-based tests: These tests check the stool (feces) for signs of cancer. These tests are less invasive and easier to have done, but they need to be done more often.
  • Visual exams: These tests look at the structure of the colon and rectum for any abnormal areas. This is done either with a scope (a tube-like instrument with a light and tiny video camera on the end) put into the rectum, or with special imaging (x-ray) tests. The most well known of this type of test is colonoscopy. 

Possible warning signs of colorectal cancer

  • Blood in stool (bright red or very dark)
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Change in bowel habits
  • Frequent constipation
  • Frequent diarrhea
  • Feeling that the  bowel is not emptying completely
  • Stools that are narrower than usual (pencil thin)
  • Abdominal discomfort- frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness and/or cramps
  • Unexplained weight loss

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