Get Your Screening Today
Approximately 600 men and women in Idaho will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year.
If you are 45 or over, now is the time to talk to your doctor about colon cancer screenings.
The ages for the Colorectal Cancer Screening measure was updated in HEDIS Measurement Year 2022 to align with the updates to the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines to assess for adults ages 45-75.
Colon Cancer Awareness
What is the colon?
The colon, a segment of the large intestine, is the final part of the digestive system. Its primary responsibilities include water absorption and waste management and elimination.
What factors might affect me?
Cancer is caused by a DNA change inside of specific cells. In most cases, colorectal cancer is caused by a polyp, a small growth in the colon or rectum, that has become cancerous.
As with most cancers, some individuals have a higher risk of colorectal cancer due to specific habitual and genetic risk factors, including:
Habitual Risk Factors
- Obesity
- Physical Inactivity
- Diet high in red and processed meat
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol consumption
Genetic Risk Factors
- Age
- Family history of colorectal cancer
- Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Race (African Americans and Jews of Eastern European descent are at greater risk)
What should I do?
Individuals ages 45 to 75 should receive regular screenings to ensure cancerous polyps have not formed in the colon or rectum.
Colonoscopy: Much like the Flexible Sigmoidoscopy, a doctor will put a small, flexible tube into the rectum to check for polyps and cancer. During this test, the doctor will check the entire colon.
Cancer Treatment Idaho Falls
Teton Cancer Institute, an affiliate of Mountain View Hospital, is a team of cancer specialists dedicated to offering the most advanced and innovative cancer care available in Southeast Idaho.
