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Nebraska Colon Cancer Screening Program (NCP) is a colon cancer screening program that offers enrollment, screening and education to Nebraska men and women who are 50-74 years of age.

What would you like to do?

What would you like to do?

What you need to know

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Is Your Insurance Coverage Changing?

Do you have upcoming changes in your insurance?  Insurance changes shouldn't stop PREVENTIVE care!

If you are a woman losing or dropping insurance coverage, Every Woman Matters (EWM) may be able to help with well-woman visits.  For eligible clients, EWM offers:

  • Breast and cervical cancer screenings for women 21-64
  • Colon Cancer testing for women and men 45-74

Early prevention saves lives!  Enroll Now​​ or call 1-800-532-2227 to see if you qualify TODAY!


Screening Saves Lives! 

Women and men over the age of 45 are at an increased risk for colon cancer. Having regular screening tests beginning at age 45 could save your life. Screening can find precancerous polyps (abnormal growths in the colon or rectum) so they can be removed before turning into cancer. Screening can find colorectal cancer at an early stage, when treatment often leads to a cure.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, and Nebraska ranks 41st for screening rates, but we can do better. Get screened today!

PLEASE SEND ME A FIT KIT!  FIT Kit Request Form​
(to change language, click on current language in upper right of form)


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MARCH 2026 COLON CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: 
*flyers and​ social media pieces can be personalized upon request and made available in alternate formats​

FLYER:  Recommended Age for Screening || Recommended Age for Screening (Spanish)
2026 Social Media Samples (English/Spanish)
Week 1 Social Media || Week 1 Social Media (Spanish)
Week 2 Social Media || Week 2 Social Media (Spanish)
Week 3 Social Media || Week 3 Social Media (Spanish)
Week 4 Social Media || Week 4 Social Media (Spanish)
Week 5 Social Media || Week 5 Social Media (Spanish)
Week 6 Social Media || Week 6 Social Media (Spanish)
Week 7 Social Media || Week 7 Social Media (Spanish)
Week 8 Social Media || Week 8 Social Media (Spanish)
Card for FIT Kit || Card for FIT Kit​ (SPANISH)
Client Education Flyer for FIT Kit (English/Spanish)
Colon Cancer Fact Sheet​ (2006-2024)

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Screening Resources

​​​FIT Kit Request Form and Instructions

Colon Cancer Signs & Symptoms

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.

Colon Cancer Screening Tests

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)

Colon Cancer Prevention

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.

Resources and Education

Colon Cancer Facts (English)                
Colon Cancer Facts (Spanish)

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" ​

Men's Health Resources

Be Wise & Strong While Growing Older
Helpful health resources you may want to use in your wellness journey.
These resources are intended to provide information and are not necessarily endorsed by WMHP.

Men's Health Screening Recommendations and Health Facts: 
https://nursing.maryville.edu/blog/health-screening-recommendations-by-age.html
https://menshealthnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/menshealthfacts.pdf

Choosing a Doctor:
https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/doctor-visits/regular-checkups/choosing-doctor-quick-tips
https://www.ahrq.gov/questions/index.html
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/medical-care-and-appointments/what-should-i-ask-my-doctor-during-checkup​

Getting Regular Checkups:
https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/doctor-visits/regular-checkups/men-take-charge-your-health
https://familydoctor.org/tips-for-talking-to-your-doctor/?adfree=true

Colorectal Cancer:
https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/doctor-visits/talking-doctor/colorectal-cancer-screening-questions-doctor
https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Nebraska-Colon-Cancer-Screening-Program.aspx

Prostate Cancer:
https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/patient/prostate-screening-pdq
https://menshealthnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/prostatecancerfacts.pdf

Testicular Cancer:
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/features/cancer-and-men.html

Testosterone:
https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/testosterone-levels-test/
https://menshealthnetwork.org/low-testosterone/
https://menshealthnetwork.org/wp-content/library/testosterone.pdf

Heart Disease: 
https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/men-and-heart-disease.html
https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/index.html

Healthy Eating:
https://menshealthnetwork.org/diet/
https://familydoctor.org/men-eat-right-stay-healthy/?adfree=true
https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-weight-growth/healthy-eating/meals-snacks.html

Protein Intake:
https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/youre-not-eating-nearly-enough-protein

Diabetes:
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/diabetes-testing/prediabetes-a1c-test.html

Know Your Family History:
https://www.cdc.gov/family-health-history/family-health-history-and-you/family-health-history-and-adults.html#cdc_family_health_steps-collect-and-share-your-family-health-history​
https://cbiit.github.io/FHH/html/index.html (Create a Family Health History)

Mental Health:

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/men-and-mental-health
https://menshealthnetwork.org/mental-health-issues/​

Sleep:
https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/healthy-living/mental-health-and-relationships/get-enough-sleep
https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about/index.html​

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Nebraska Colon Cancer Screening Program
Department of Health & Human Services
Phone Number
(402) 471-0929
Toll Free Number
(800) 532-2227
Fax Number
(402) 471-0913
Mailing Address
301 Centennial Mall South, P.O. Box 94817, Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-4817

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