Are you the right age for a colon cancer screening? Gone are the days when this preventative test was something only your grandparents needed. If you're not sure whether you're too young for a colonoscopy or other colorectal cancer detection test, take a look at the questions to ask right now.

Are You Ready To Turn 45?

Your forty-fifth birthday is on the horizon. Does this mean you should schedule a colonoscopy—or do you need to wait? Newer guidelines from the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommend that adults who are at average risk for colorectal cancer should start this screening at age 45. 

Do You Only Have An Average Risk?

Some adults may need their first colonoscopy before they turn 45. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, a personal history (meaning that you have experienced this issue yourself) of colorectal cancer or polyps, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, another type of diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease, hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes (such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis) or have had radiation to the abdominal/pelvic area to treat a previous cancer, you should not wait until you are 45 for a first colonoscopy, according to the ACS's definition of average risk. 

If you're not sure whether you only have an average risk, talk to your doctor. Your medical provider will review your family and personal health histories and help you to understand your current risk level. It's possible a family history of colorectal cancer may not mean you need an earlier screening. The decision to start colonoscopies before age 45 depends on who in your family had this type of cancer, their relation to you, and the age of their diagnosis. 

While colonoscopies are a standard screening tool, talk to your doctor about which test is best for you. Fecal immunochemical tests, guaiac-based fecal occult blood tests, multi-targeted stool DNA tests, flexible sigmoidoscopies, and CT colonography can also screen for colorectal disease.

Have You Had Abdominal or Pelvic Radiation or An Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Adults who have had these types of radiation to treat a previous cancer (colorectal or any other abdominal/pelvic area cancer) should start screenings at age 30 or five years after the radiation, according to the ACS. Some adults who have had abdominal or pelvic cancer radiation therapy may also need screenings more often than those at an average risk level. 

Whether you have Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or another inflammatory condition, you may need a colonoscopy before you turn 45. It's possible you've already had this type of test to rule out other issues and help the doctor make a diagnosis. If you've never had a screening, the ACS recommends a colonoscopy eight years after your diagnosis and follow-ups every one to three years. 

Reach out to a doctor to see if you need colon cancer screening.