Screening more Veterans than ever for colon cancer
What is colon or colorectal cancer?
In the last year, colon or colorectal cancer (CRC) has been identified as the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the U.S. for people under 50. CRC is one of the most common cancers in the United States, and each year VA diagnoses approximately 4,000 new cases. VA is committed to improving CRC outcomes for all Veterans by increasing screening and access to care.
Screening for CRC starts at age 45 for Veterans without any known risk factors and is one of the few cancers where regular screenings can prevent a cancer diagnosis. Veterans with a family history of CRC or other risk factors should talk to their provider about what screening is right for them.
How VA is bringing care to Veteran’s homes
VA’s National Colorectal Cancer Screening Program delivers more than 35,000 Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) kits each month to the homes of Veterans eligible for CRC screening.
These tests increase VA’s capacity to screen for CRC by providing convenient access to Veterans without requiring them to visit their VA provider. If the FIT is abnormal, a follow-up colonoscopy will be scheduled.
Innovation and high-quality colorectal cancer screening
While at-home screening offers an alternative to colonoscopy for CRC screening, providing high quality colonoscopies is also critical for Veterans who need the procedure. These are crucial to detect polyps early before they have a chance to become cancer or to detect cancer at an early stage when treatment is most effective.
In combination with the recent deployment of artificial intelligence devices to improve precancerous polyp detection, VA is taking every step to ensure that all Veterans undergoing colonoscopy within VA have access to the highest quality examinations.
Screening saves lives
While we’re saving lives every day through CRC screening, VA is also a leader in lung cancer screening and providing comprehensive cancer care to Veterans no matter where they live in the U.S. through tele oncology services. To learn more about colorectal cancer screening at VA, visit cancer.va.gov and talk to your VA provider.