Prowers Medical Center family practice physician Dr. Richard Book isn’t shy about discussing colon health.

Colon health in men, in particular.

“Guys tend to think, ‘If it ain’t broke, I’m not going to the doctor,’” Dr. Book said. “But when it comes to colon health, it’s all about preventing major problems and getting early treatment when something is wrong.”

The United States Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that colorectal cancer screenings begin at age 45 for people of average risk. People of higher risk, such as those with a family history, need to be screened even earlier. The guidelines have become more stringent in recent years because there has been an alarming rise in colorectal cancer among adults under the age of 50—an increase of 15% since 2004.

“If you have a first-degree relative who had colon cancer, you need to be checked at least 10 years earlier than the age at which that person was diagnosed OR at age 45, whichever comes first,” Dr. Book said. “And if you have any symptoms regardless of family history, you need to be checked immediately. Do not wait! If it’s caught early, colon cancer patients tend to have a much better outcome.”

Following are Dr. Book’s colon health recommendations:

  1. Get regular check-ups.

“Come in once a year for a thorough wellness exam,” Dr. Book said. “One thing we’ll do is get blood tests. A low hemoglobin can be a sign of internal bleeding. We’ll also do a rectal exam and check your stool for blood, which you may not even be able to see. Then, if you need a screening colonoscopy so we can take a look at things more closely, we’ll get that ordered.

“Just remember that routine exams are the building block of boring health,” Dr. Book said. “We want your health to be boring.”

  1. If you have any changes in bowel habits or see blood in your stool, come in right away.

“Even if you’d had a normal check-up recently, if you have any change in bowel symptoms, you should be evaluated,” Dr. Book said. “Look for bright red blood in your stool or on your toilet paper, and also take note if your stool is black and tarry, because that can indicate gastrointestinal bleeding higher up in the GI tract.”

GI bleeding doesn’t necessarily mean colon cancer, however. You might simply have hemorrhoids, diverticulitis or other relatively minor issues, but regardless, colonoscopy will reveal most bleeding sources.

  1. Have a colonoscopy when it’s recommended for your age, family history and symptoms.

“The worst thing about colonoscopy is the prep,” Dr. Book said, “but that’s gotten a lot easier in recent years. And if your colon is clean, you may not need to have another one for 10 years.”

  1. Use home testing like Cologuard when appropriate.

“Colonoscopy is the right test if you have symptoms,” Dr. Book said, “but for certain patients, Cologuard can be a good initial screening alternative. Talk to your primary care provider about home testing if you can’t have a colonoscopy for some reason.”