Colon Cancer Screening Should Start at Age 50
It has long been said by medical imaging professionals that the average person should start getting regular screening for colon cancer upon reaching the age of 50. A
new study confirms that this is indeed the right age for most patients to begin getting their regular virtual colonoscopy exams in order to detect and treat colon cancer before it becomes a fatal problem.
The study found that the rate of pre-cancerous ployps increases significantly for the average person after the age of 50 as compared to prior to this age. These polyps may occur in a patient between the ages of 30 and 50 but they are much worse - and more life-threatening - at 50 so it is important for patients 50 and older not to delay getting colon cancer screening.
This doesn't necessarily means that 50 is the right age for everyone to get colon cancer screening. People with strong family histories of colon cancer and people who are at higher risk of the disease for other reasons may want to start getting screening at an earlier age. However, no patient should be waiting until much later than 50 to start getting colon cancer screening.
Question of the Day: Why is 50 the right age to start getting regular colon cancer screening?photo link
