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Colon cancer (cancer of the large bowel) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, exceeded only by lung cancer. Colon cancer can be treated and often cured if it is found early. Because death from colon cancer is preventable, doctors want to look for colon cancer before it grows too large or spreads to other organs. Testing persons without symptoms or signs of colon cancer (such as blood in the stool or low blood count) is called screening. Screening for colon cancer is recommended for everyone aged 50 years and older.

The March 8, 2006, issue of JAMA includes an article about screening for colon cancer. This Patient Page is based on one previously published in the March 12, 2003, issue of JAMA.

METHODS FOR SCREENING

• Fecal occult blood test
  Colon cancer can cause a small amount of occult (not visible) bleeding. Testing for this occult . . . [Full Text of this Article]

RELATED ARTICLE

A 71-Year-Old Woman Contemplating a Screening Colonoscopy
William C. Taylor
JAMA. 2006;295(10):1161-1167.
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