If you have experienced bleeding during bowel movements, blood mixed with your stool, blood in your stool, pain during bowel movements, occult blood in your stool, persistent abdominal pain, chronic abdominal pain, chronic abdominal bloating, if your colon-related symptoms have not improved or cleared up with treatment, if you have a family history of polyps, if you have had surgery for colon or rectal cancer, at age 45 for colon cancer screening, or at age 40 if you have a family member who has or had colon or rectal cancer. Changes in the shape, consistency, or color of your stool (changes in bowel habits), unexplained weight loss, anemia, chronic diarrhea, chronic constipation, or if you suspect your symptoms may be due to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

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If you are already 50 years old, you are a candidate for a screening colonoscopy for the timely diagnosis of colon cancer.