Colorectal Cancer, Adenocarcinoma of the Colon, Rectal Cancer, Colon Cancer, and Colon Polyps

Colorectal cancer screening ages 76-85: The routine screening for colorectal cancer among adults age 76-85 years is not recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force unless not previously screened and if benefit outweighs the risk. The rationale not to screen after age 75 is the fact that the benefit is not seen until 7 years later in clinical trials. (26)

Colorectal cancer screening ages 85 years and older: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends against screening for colorectal cancer since risk of mortality outweighs the benefits (26).

Since 2008, the American College of Radiology, the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American Cancer Society have also collectively favored testing with annual guaiac-based fecal occult blood test with 2 to 3 stool samples, annual fecal immunochemical test, or annual stool DNA test and if positive, perform flexible sigmoidoscopy (with insertion to 40 cm/splenic flexure every 5 years), colonoscopy every 10 years, double contrast barium enema every 5 years, and computed tomography colonography every 5 years (27).