Colon cancer is a common disease, and screening can reduce your chances of developing it. Colonoscopy Colonoscopy is a common method of screening for colon cancer. A tube with a light source and camera is inserted into the colon, allowing the doctor to see inside the colon. A major advantage of colonoscopy is that doctors can find ? s polyps (cancerous growths), which can also be removed (polypectomy). Of course, if your test results show no abnormalities and you don’t have any risk factors, you will only need a colonoscopy once every 10 years. However, there are some disadvantages to colonoscopy. You will not be able to go to work during the test and will need someone to stay with you. Colonoscopies require sedation, and there is a risk that the colonoscopy tube will tear your colon and require emergency surgery to repair it. Some doctors and government agencies have endorsed tests to replace colonoscopies for people over age 50 who are at general risk for colon cancer. These tests need to be repeated more frequently. If your doctor finds any abnormalities (which become more likely with age), then a follow-up colonoscopy is needed. ”Virtual” colonoscopy Also known as computed tomography colonography, or simply colonography. This screen uses X-rays to create a picture of the inside of the colon. Tests such as colonoscopy and colon imaging require a laxative to cleanse the colon. Because the exam tube is inserted only into the rectum, not the entire colon, sedation is usually not required and the risk of perforation is minimal. However, colon imaging involves radiation exposure. Guidelines issued by professional societies in 2008 suggest that the data are sufficient to confirm the effectiveness of colon imaging as a screening tool. However, the U.S. Medicare and Medicaid Services and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded that there is insufficient evidence to confirm colon imaging as a screening method for colorectal cancer. High-quality data confirm that flexible sigmoidoscopy reduces the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer. The basic difference between colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy is that sigmoidoscopy looks at the lower colon and rectum. Therefore, although there may be some discomfort, sedation is usually not required. The test is performed with an enema, not a laxative. Fecal occult blood test Also known as a fecal immunochemical test, this is a low-risk test that can be performed at home. A small amount of stool is placed on a plate and sent to the doctor. The fecal occult blood test does not require a restricted diet or bowel preparation and does not interfere with going to work, but it is a less sensitive test and should therefore be performed annually. The evidence does not yet support the superiority of either of these screening tools over the other, so consider your individual health situation and discuss it with your doctor when deciding which screening method is best for you. Not all screening tests are covered by insurance plans, so please check to see if your preferred test is covered by Medicare.