The exact cause of colon and rectal cancer is unknown but there are several risk factors that are thought to be associated with its development. The question that often arises is who should be screened and when?
Genetics, age over 50 years, family history of colon cancer and colon polyps, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and smoking are some of the risk factors identified. Diets high in red meat and fat and low in fiber, calcium and folate have also been thought to be linked to the development of colon cancer.
Colonoscopy is the most widely used tool to screen for colon cancer. It is the only modality to date that can screen and treat patients with the identification and subsequent removal of colon and rectal polyps.
Polyps can be hyperplastic (benign) or adenomatous (pre-cancerous). These are fleshy growths in the inner lining of the colon that can become cancerous. Cancer begins when cells in the body start to grow out of control.
The goal of screening colonoscopy is to detect and remove these polyps before they become cancerous. The question that often arises is who should be screened and when? Current guidelines from several medical societies recommend screening average-risk people without symptoms at age 50.