Certain types of colon and rectum cancers that inflict many people, could have easily been avoided or stopped before they progressed, if you follow certain prevention techniques.
If you are a man or woman who is at average to moderate risk of having colon or rectum cancer, or you are fifty years of age or older, you should be sure to get tested in order to prevent the spread of this debilitating type of cancer.
Colon and Rectum Cancer Examination Schedules
Anyone who might be at risk should follow at least one of the examination schedules presented herein:
Once a year examination: Fecal occult blood test or FOBT.
Once every five years examination: Double contrast barium enema.
Once every five years examination: A flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Once every ten years examination: A colonoscopy.
However, the preferred examination by the American Cancer Society is for a patient to have both a fecal occult blood test once a year along with a flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years.
If there is a history of colon cancer or rectum cancer in your family, you may need to be tested for this form of cancer prior to turning age fifty. As always be sure to talk to your personal physician to see what types of tests and what type of examination schedule that he/she recommends you to follow.
