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Colon cancer screening: why it starts at 45 and what your options are

Colon cancer often has no symptoms at first. Screening can find it early, and it can even find growths before they turn into cancer. This guide explains when to start, what the tests are like, and how to get screened without a lot of cost.

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By Aspire Health Community Care · Updated November 2026 · General education, not medical advice.

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One simple test can protect your health for years.

Why screening starts at 45

Experts recommend that adults ages 45 to 75 get screened for colorectal cancer. That means colon or rectal cancer. The starting age used to be 50, but it moved to 45 because more younger adults are getting this cancer.

If you are 76 to 85, screening is a choice to make with your doctor based on your health and past test results.

It can be prevented or found early

Most colon cancers start as small growths called polyps. Polyps can take years to turn into cancer. Some tests find polyps so they can be removed before they ever become cancer.

When colon cancer is found early, it is often easier to treat. That is why screening matters even when you feel fine.

Your screening options in plain terms

There is more than one way to get screened. The best test is the one you will actually do. Talk with your doctor about which fits you.

  • Stool test at home: you collect a small sample in a kit and mail it or drop it off. Some kits are done every year. A stool DNA test is done every one to three years.
  • Colonoscopy: a doctor uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera to look at your whole colon. You are given medicine to relax and are usually asleep. Polyps can be removed during the same visit. If results are normal, it is usually repeated every 10 years.
  • Other options: a CT scan of the colon or a shorter scope exam are done every five years.
  • If a stool test is positive: you will need a colonoscopy to find out why. A positive result does not mean you have cancer.

Warning signs not to ignore

Screening is for men with no symptoms. If you have any of these, do not wait for a screening date. See your doctor soon.

  • Blood in or on your stool, or dark, tarry stool
  • A change in bowel habits that lasts, like diarrhea, constipation or narrow stools
  • Belly pain, cramps or bloating that will not go away
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Feeling very tired or weak

Family history matters

Your risk is higher if a parent, brother, sister or child has had colon cancer or certain polyps. Some inherited conditions also raise your risk. So can inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

If any of this applies to you, you may need to start screening before 45 or get tested more often. Ask your family what they know and share it with your doctor.

Low-cost ways to get screened

Cost should not keep you from getting screened. Most health plans must cover colorectal cancer screening for adults 45 to 75 without a copay. Medicare covers several screening tests. If you have Medicaid or another plan, call the number on your card to ask what is covered.

If you do not have insurance, community health centers offer care with fees based on what you can pay. You can find one at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov. If you are 45 or older and have not been screened, a good first step is to talk to your doctor. It is also a good time to bring up other concerns, like changes in erections, which can be linked to heart and blood vessel health.

Not sure where to start? We list trusted places to get checked in Louisiana, from community health centers to men’s health clinics. See where to get care.

Sources

Where to get care

Any of these is a good next step. Pick the one that fits you.

  • Aspire Health and Wellness†. A men’s health clinic in Metairie specializing in erectile dysfunction and weight loss, with free private visits and a range of treatment options. Visit aspireneworleans.com.
  • Your primary care doctor. A good first stop. They can check your heart, blood sugar, and hormone levels.
  • A urologist. A doctor who specializes in men’s urologic and sexual health.
  • A community health center. Fees are based on income, with or without insurance. Find a community health center.
  • Louisiana Medicaid. If you qualify, it covers doctor visits and prescriptions. See if you qualify.
  • Veterans. Southeast Louisiana VA Health Care offers men’s health care for enrolled veterans.

† Affiliated with Aspire Community Care. We’re a nonprofit and don’t provide medical care; choose any provider that fits you.

Not sure where to start? Tell us what’s going on and we’ll help you find a next step. What you share stays private.

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