Primary screening techniques

Current screening recommendations of the American Gastroenterologic Association include:

• Annual digital rectal examination and fecal occult blood tests, starting at age 40.
• Annual flexible sigmoidoscopy with a barium enema X-ray (image right) or colonoscopies, starting at age 50.

Screening all adults for occult fecal blood is the most productive approach to early detection of colorectal cancer. In people over 50, most experts would recommend doing a colonoscopy once or twice the first year, and then once every 3 years.

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