Colon cancer screening is the process of looking for signs of cancer or precancer in the colon and rectum before the patient notices any symptoms. When colorectal cancer is found in the early stages it is easier to treat and even curable. This is why the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends regular colon cancer screening for all adults. You’re probably familiar with the colonoscopy exam, but there are actually several other methods available to screen for colorectal cancer.

Colonoscopy is considered to be the “gold standard” for colorectal cancer screening — not only is it the most effective screening test available, it’s the only one that can actually prevent future cases of colon cancer. Colonoscopy allows doctors to identify potentially cancerous polyps (abnormal growths inside the colon) and remove them at the same time, significantly reducing one’s risk of developing colorectal cancer.