Forsyth Medical Center 
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal Screening Assessment
| Below are the guidelines for colorectal cancer screenings. |
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Learn more about your risks:
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All Patients (unless high risk):
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Recommendations as follows: (Beginning at the age of 50)
- Offer colonoscopy every 10 years, OR
- Offer screening with Fecal Occult Blood Test every year combined with flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
- Offer yearly screening with Fecal Occult Blood Test using a sensitive guaiac based test with dietary restriction
- Offer flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
- Offer double contrast barium enema every 5 years
High Risk Patients:
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Recommendations as follows:
- If 1 first degree relative (parents, siblings) has colon cancer, then average risk screening should begin at age 40 or 10 years prior to the age relative was diagnosed.
- If 2 first degree relatives have colon cancer or 1 before the age of 60, then colonoscopy should begin at age 40 and every 5 years subsequently.
- If there is a positive family history of familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, then genetic testing may be appropriate.
Promising new screening tests (virtual colonoscopy and tests for altered DNA in stool) are in development but are not yet ready for use outside of research studies.
For More Information
For more information on guidelines for high risk patients, please contact Karen Shearin, BSN (High Risk Clinic Coordinator) at (336) 718-0264.
