New colorectal screening recommendations for adults aged 50-75

New recommendations for colorectal screening for adults between the ages of 50-75 were recently announced by the American College of Physicians (ACP). According to the ACP, adults in this age group should get screened on a regular basis in one of three ways:

• A colonoscopy every 10 years

• A fecal immunochemical test (FIT) or high sensitivity guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) every two years

• Or a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 years, plus FIT every two years.

Generally, screenings are covered by most insurance plans and Medicare for patients over 50. If you don’t have a family history of colorectal cancer, or are currently showing no symptoms, it’s important to get screened based on the above recommendations. If you do have a family history of the disease, or are over 75, the ACP suggests checking with your doctor for personalized screening recommendations. For more details about the ACP’s new screening recommendations, read this article by the AARP.