Colon cancer is the third-most commonly diagnosed cancer in Delaware.
Delaware has made significant progress in helping people get screened for colorectal cancer. We know that you — and all health care providers — are keeping the importance of colon cancer screenings top of mind. Continue to recommend a colonoscopy or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) to your patients who need a colorectal cancer screening.
Who Should Be Screened?
Your patients should be screened for colon cancer if they:
- Are age 45 or older
- Eat a diet high in red or processed meats
- Es obeso
- Are heavy alcohol users
- Have Type 2 diabetes
- Es afroamericano
- Have a history of colorectal adenomatous polyps
- Have a history of colon cancer
- Have a history of inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease
Be Aware of Younger Onset Colorectal Cancer
People have a greater risk of being diagnosed at a younger age if they:
- Have relatives diagnosed with colon cancer
- Tiene diabetes
- Have inflammatory bowel disease
- Es obeso (20 o más libras de sobrepeso)
- Have been diagnosed with Lynch syndrome
- Drink more sweetened beverages and less milk
- Es afroamericano
- Come carnes procesadas
Síntomas
If your younger patients are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may recommend a colorectal cancer screening:
- Sangrado rectal sin explicación
- Sangre en las heces
- Debilidad y fatiga
- Pérdida de peso inexplicable
- Dolor abdominal
- Cambios recientes y persistentes en los hábitos intestinales
- Anemia por deficiencia de hierro
- Sensación constante de necesidad de evacuar
Exámenes de detección
Types of Colorectal Cancer Screenings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two types of colorectal cancer screenings:
- Colonoscopy An outpatient procedure during which an endoscope is used to look for and remove polyps in the colon.
- FIT test An at-home test kit that requires the patient to collect a stool sample and mail it to a lab for testing.
Patient Education Materials for Your Office
Enlaces útiles
Order Free Materials
Printed brochures, fact sheets, and other materials are available to order for your practice, free of charge.
See what’s available to order nowView Quality Cancer Data
Information is collected on new cancer cases, cancer treatment, and cancer deaths by the Delaware Cancer Registry. This ongoing source of data helps you and other providers measure the quality of cancer care in Delaware.
Más informaciónPatient Cancer Programs and Services
Learn about all the programs available to help your patients get screened and treated for cancer, along with services that offer help with cancer care coordination and navigation as well as survivorship.
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