Currently only 30 percent of Americans take advantage of colon-cancer screening. Yet if all colon-cancer cases were detected at their earliest stages, five-year overall survival rates would jump from 65 percent to 90 percent.

What are the screening methods?

• Colonoscopy every 10 years: Colonoscopy is a procedure in which a lighted probe (a colonoscope) is inserted into the rectum and entire colon to look for polyps and abnormalities; if polyps are found, they can be immediately removed.
  
  
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years: Sigmoidoscopy is a procedure in which a lighted probe (a sigmoidoscope) is inserted into the rectum and lower colon to check for polyps and abnormalities.
  
  
• Annual fecal-occult blood test (FOBT) with flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
  
  
• Annual fecal-occult blood test (FOBT)

Ask your doctor about which screening methods are right for you ... they can save your life!

Contact a doctor about getting screened:

Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (206) 288-7222 825 Eastlake Avenue E. Seattle, WA 98109

Gastroenterologists listed with the Washington Medical Association.

For more information about cancer prevention and early detection, visit the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance's Cancer Prevention Clinic.