Colon cancer often starts with no symptoms. The exact cause of most colon cancers is not known, however research says that approximately 75% of colorectal cancers occur in people with no known risk factors.

Risk factors may increase a person's risk of developing colon cancer.  Risk factors include having a family history of colon or rectal polyps or colorectal cancer, or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease) Genetic syndromes.

Colon cancer develops with few, if any, symptoms at first.  If symptoms are present, they may include:

• Blood in or on the stool
• A change in bowel habits
• Stools that are narrower than usual
• General, unexplained stomach discomfort
• Frequent gas, pains, or indigestion
• Unexplained weight loss
• Chronic fatigue

These symptoms can also be associated with other health conditions.  If you have any of the symptoms, discuss them with your health care provider.  Only your health care provider, through testing, can determine why you're having these symptoms.

The following are recommendations for men and women 45 years of age and older.  The recommendations are to use one or a combination of the following tests for persons at average risk.

Home Based Screening Test (stool test)​ - Yearly
Sigmoidoscopy - Every 5 years
Colonoscopy - Every 10 years
Double Contrast Barium Enema (DCBE) - Every 5-10 Years

Screening Tests At-A-Glance (English)
Screening Tests At-A-Glance (Spanish)

Seven steps to lowering your risk of colon cancer:

• Get regular colon cancer screening tests beginning at age 45.
• Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains from breads, cereals, nuts and beans.
• Eat a low-fat diet.
• Eat foods with folate such as leafy green vegetables.  A daily multivitamin containing .4mg of folic acid may also be helpful.
• If you use alcohol, drink only in moderation.
• If you use tobacco, quit.  If you don't use tobacco, don't start.
• Exercise for a least 20 minutes three to four days each week.  Moderate exercise such as walking, gardening or climbing steps may help reduce your risk.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor (English)   
Questions to Ask Your Doctor (Spanish)

Screening Tests At-A-Glance (English)
Screening Tests At-A-Glance (Spanish)

Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Fact Sheet
Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Fact Sheet
Hereditary Non Polyposis Colorectal Cancer Fact Sheet​
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Fact Sheet
Rectal Bleeding Fact Sheet

Zoom Meeting Recording: 7/14/21 Nebraska Colorectal Cancer Screening Engagement Meeting
"Reigniting Colorectal Cancer Screening in Nebraska with a Focus on the Medicaid Population" ​