Most colon cancers arise after the age of 50, at which time '''screening''' is recommended. There are, however, several inherited types of colon cancer, the most important of which are '''hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)''' and '''Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)'''. People with these conditions require earlier and more frequent screening. Also, people with '''Ulcerative Colitis''' are very susceptible to colon cancer and must be screened early and often.
For people without these conditions, and without a family history of colon cancer, screening usually begins at age 50. Your doctor will usually test your stool for hidden blood that may indicate a cancer or polyp, and most patients will be offered colonoscopy, where a long, thin tube with a camera on the end is used to examine the entire colon, and remove polyps if necessary.
==Symptoms & Diagnosis==