Colon cancer can be prevented in a huge number of cases … that’s why screening is so important. Guidelines say people should begin screening at age 45 and continue every 10 years. The best and most complete way to screen is with a colonoscopy, but there are other methods. We asked Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal surgeon at Weill-Cornell Medical Center, to dispel some common myths about colon cancer and colon cancer screening.
Myth #1: Colonoscopies are the only way to detect colon cancer.
Read More The verdict: Not true. Though colonoscopies are the best way, there are a lot of other methods — like fecal occult blood tests and fecal immunochemical tests (FIT). “The [tests] have different roles and you should talk to a medical provider about what’s best for you, but there are a lot of options,” Dr. Yeo said. Myth #2: Only people with a family history can get colon cancer. The verdict: Not true. “In fact, the majority of people who get colon cancer have no family history,” Dr. Yeo says. “The reason I do the specialty is because if we screen patients early, cancers can be prevented. We can have really good survival outcomes.”
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