Moffitt Cancer Center encourages Tampa, Florida, residents to be proactive about their colon health by making colon cancer screening part of their regular health care routine. Undergoing regular colon cancer screening is critical in the early detection and treatment of colon cancer for residents. Often, these screenings can detect clusters of abnormal tissue, called polyps, in a patient’s colon before their cancer has progressed to cause noticeable symptoms. When found early, polyps in the colon are often not yet malignant and can be removed before they undergo cancerous changes. Additionally, even when the polyps are cancerous, patients whose cancer is diagnosed early often have more treatment options available to them, therefore increasing their likelihood of achieving a favorable outcome.

Physicians commonly recommend that adults begin regular colon cancer screening once they reach 45 years of age. Younger individuals who are considered to be at a higher risk of developing colon cancer, however, should begin regular testing at a younger age. Risk factors for developing colon cancer include:

Having a family history of the disease
Being a colon cancer survivor
Having specific inherited syndromes, like adenomatous polyposis or Lynch syndrome
Having intestinal diseases, like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease

At Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, we offer several screening options, like colonoscopies and high-sensitivity blood tests, to detect colon cancer in its earliest stages. In the event that a patient’s screening test shows precancerous or cancerous polyps, the experienced oncologists in our Gastrointestinal Oncology Program can develop an individualized treatment plan that will be most effective in treating the patient’s cancer.

If you live in the Tampa, FL, area and would like to speak with someone about colon cancer screening, call 1-888-663-3488 or submit a new patient registration form online. We do not require referrals.

Colon Cancer

Colon Cancer Screening for Residents of Tampa, FL

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