Colorectal Cancer Is Becoming More Common In Young People. Here Are The Signs You Should Know.

It’s very common for people to be afraid of colonoscopies, though it’s unwarranted, experts say. “Colonoscopies are extraordinarily safe procedures … and they are actually not uncomfortable at all,” Azad said.

Azad added that the most uncomfortable part for many people is the preparation (essentially cleaning out your system). But that minor inconvenience comes with major health benefits. 

Many experts do consider colonoscopies to be the gold standard, Mendelsohn said, “because it’s really the screening method where we can at the same time identify these polyps and remove them, and if there is cancer, biopsy it — it allows us to do early recognition and cancer prevention at once.”

There are other screening tests available as well, like stool tests and a CT scan known as a virtual colonoscopy, Mendelsohn said.

In healthy people, colonoscopies should take place every 10 years, and virtual colonoscopies are required every five years. Stool tests should happen more frequently, ranging from every year to every three years, depending on the test, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

“When people ask what is the best test … I do think [colonoscopy] is the best test because it allows us to do all the things that we talked about, but in the end, I think the best test is the one that gets done,” Mendelsohn said.

So, if you’re nervous about getting a colonoscopy (or the routine to prepare for one), there are other screening options.

Signs of colorectal cancer can vary.