Why start screening at age 45?
Colorectal cancer (colon cancer) is the third leading cause of cancer in the United States.1 While it mostly occurs in adults older than 50, incidence rates are rising for young adults. Incidence and death rates are projected to double by 2030.1
It is estimated that by 2030 more than 1 in 10 colon cancers will be diagnosed in people younger than 50.2 The recommended age for a colon cancer screening is now 45 years old.3 Colonoscopy screenings may reduce the colorectal cancer mortality4 by 60-70%.3,9
It doesn’t have to be this way.
90% of patients with colon cancer will beat it when caught early.5
Colon cancer and colon polyps screening options
Early screening is a way you can protect yourself against colon cancer.3 Some of the screening options3 you have are:
Fecal occult blood test
This test checks a stool sample for hidden blood. Small amounts of blood can be in the stool when polyps or cancers start to form.6 Using a special kit, it can either be conducted in a doctor’s office or at home.6 If results are positive for blood, further testing is needed to find the exact cause of bleeding.3 Often individuals perform the test at home and mail in for processing.6
All medical procedures carry risks. Please refer to your physician for more information about procedure risks related to fecal occult blood test which include risk of false-negative and false-positive results.6
Ask your doctor about GI Genius™ colonoscopy.
A GI Genius™ colonoscopy allows for computer-aided detection of polyps to help the physician identify polyps using enhanced visualization.
The GI Genius™ colonoscopy increases the physician’s potential for finding precancerous polyps during colonoscopy — and may reduce their risk of missing it, too.10 In addition to scheduling their first screening appointment, adults may want to inquire about precancerous polyp detection rate and ask if their doctor is using GI Genius™ colonoscopy.
Polyps are really hard to see. Having a little technology assist really makes a big difference.
– Brooks, CRC survivor
Learn more about GI Genius™ colonoscopy and speak to your doctor.
Information and resources on this site should not be used as a substitute for medical advice from your doctor. Always discuss diagnosis and treatment information including risks with your doctor. Keep in mind that all treatment and outcome results are specific to the individual patient. Results may vary.
Patient
resources
Find helpful information about colon health, diagnosing, and treating colon disease.
Indications
GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy module is a computer-assisted reading tool designed to aid endoscopists in detecting colonic mucosal lesions (such as polyps and adenomas) in real time during standard white-light endoscopy examinations of patients undergoing screening and surveillance endoscopic mucosal evaluations. The GI Genius computer-assisted detection device is limited for use with standard white-light endoscopy imaging only. This device is not intended to replace clinical decision making.
Risk information
- GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy module is intended to be used as an accessory to colonoscopy procedures and is not intended to replace endoscopist assessment or histopathological sampling.
- The system does not perform any diagnosis and is not intended to be used as a stand-alone diagnostic device.
- The device has not been studied in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), history of colorectal cancer, or previous colonic resection. The device performance may be negatively impacted by mucosal irregularities such as background inflammation from certain underlying diseases.
- Use of GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy module during colonoscopy may present risks related to identification of lesions. Risk of identification of a false lesion may result in unnecessary patient treatment, or failure to identify a lesion resulting in delayed patient treatment.
- All medical procedures carry risks. Please refer to your physician for more information about procedure risks related to colonoscopy and those related to GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy module.
Gausman V, Dornblaser D, Anand S, et al. Risk Factors Associated with Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2020;18(12):2752–2759.
Bailey CE, Hu C-Y, You YN, et al. Increasing disparities in the age-related incidences of colon and rectal cancers in the United States, 1975-2010. JAMA surgery. 2015;150(1):17-22.
Ahmed M. Colon Cancer: A Clinician’s Perspective in 2019. Gastroenterology Research. 2020;13(1):1–10.
Niikura R, Hirata Y, Suzuki N, et al. Colonoscopy reduces colorectal cancer mortality: A multicenter, long-term, colonoscopy-based cohort study. PLoS one. 2017;12(9):1–13.
Brenner H, Kloor M, Pox CP. Colorectal cancer. Lancet (London, England). 2014;383(9927):1490–1502.
Wolf AMD, Fontham ETH, Church TR, et al. Colorectal cancer screening for average-risk adults: 2018 guideline update from the American Cancer Society. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians. 2018;68(4):250-281.
Joseph J, LePage EM, Cheney CP, Pawa R. Artificial intelligence in colonoscopy. World journal of gastroenterology. 2021;27(29):4802–4817.
Corley DA, Jenson CD, Marks AR JR, et al. Adenoma Detection Rate and Risk of Colorectal Cancer and Death. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2014;370:2539–2541.
Ransohoff DF. How much does colonoscopy reduce colon cancer mortality? Ann Intern Med. 2009;150(1):50–52.
Repici A, Badalamenti M, Maselli R, et al. Efficacy of real-time computer-aided detection of colorectal neoplasia in a randomized trial. Gastroenterology. 2020;159:512–520.e7.