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If you are 50 or older, the American Cancer Society recommends you talk to your doctor about getting tested for colon cancer, even if you have no symptoms. If you have a parent, sibling or child who has had colon cancer or colon polyps, talk with your doctor now because you might need to start testing when you are younger than 50.
Many colon cancer deaths can be prevented by getting tested regularly. Most colon cancers start as polyps, which are small growths on the lining of the colon. Finding and removing polyps can help prevent them from turning into colon cancer. Screening tests can also find cancer in early, more treatable stages. As with most cancers, when colon cancer is found early, it’s easier to treat.
A number of different types of screening tests are available—from simple tests you can do at home to colonoscopies done by a specialist. To learn more about these and other colon cancer tests, watch this short video from the American Cancer Society, and then decide with your doctor which test is right for you.
Source: American Cancer Society