Making it simpler to get lifesaving colon cancer screenings

Published: May 29, 2018 | Updated: September 28, 2022

We get it— no one wants to talk about colon cancer and colonoscopies! But colon cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women and the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., so we need to talk about it.

What is colon cancer?

Colon (or colorectal) cancer starts in the large intestine, called the colon, or the rectum. Left untreated it can spread to other parts of the body.

Colon cancer is highly treatable when it’s caught early. The only way to catch it is through a screening. If you are age 50 to 75 and at normal risk, it might be time for a colon cancer screening.

You have screening options

Norton Healthcare offers:

• Colonoscopy: A procedure in which a thin tube with a camera is inserted into the colon to look for abnormalities
• Fecal occult blood test: Stool is collected and sent to a lab to look for DNA and blood
• Fecal immunochemical test (FIT): Stool is collected and sent to a lab to look for blood

Answers to why people don’t get screened

• Cost: Most insurance, including Medicare, covers all or most of the cost of screening.
• Worried about the prep: Preparing for a colonoscopy has gotten simpler in recent years. You have options, and it is nothing to fear.
• Taking time off: Depending on the prep you use, you may not need to stay home all day. You will have to take the day off for a colonoscopy. If taking time off is difficult, consider prepping on a day you normally have off (such as Sunday) for a Monday appointment.
  Norton Healthcare also offers appointments on two Saturdays per month.

Other screening options may be available. Talk to your doctor about which is best for you and which may be covered by your insurance. The best screening is the one that you and your doctor decide is right for you.