South Heartland District Health Department

Are you 45 or older? Screening for Colon Cancer Saves Lives!

March 05, 2026

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Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in Nebraska. Anyone over age 45 is at a higher risk for colon cancer. In fact, colorectal cancer is now the #1 cause of cancer deaths in men under the age of 50.

This is why men and women age 45 and older should get screened and continue screening on a regular basis. Colon cancer is treatable, but you need to get screened so that cancer can be identified early, when treatments are more successful.

Here in Nebraska, rates of colorectal cancer diagnosis and death are higher compared to the United States overall. Based on our trends, the American Cancer Society estimated 940 new cases of colorectal cancer and 360 deaths in Nebraska during 2025.

The good news? Screening for colorectal cancer saves lives. Screening can find colorectal cancer at an early stage, when treatment often leads to a cure. If everyone ages 45 and older were screened regularly, 6 out of 10 deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented!

Screening identifies polyps or cancer in the colon or rectum. A polyp is an abnormal growth inside your body. One place a polyp can grow is in the large intestine (colon is another name for large intestine). Most polyps are not dangerous. However, some polyps may turn into cancer or already be cancer.

You might not have any symptoms, so, without screening, changes may be taking place that you don’t know about. If you begin to notice blood in your stool, have stomach pain, bloating, aches, or cramps that don’t go away, or if you are losing weight without knowing why, these symptoms may indicate problems with the colon and should be checked by your medical provider.

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends regular screening for colorectal cancers beginning at age 45. There are several types of screening tests, including stool tests - such as the Cologuard test or the FIT (fecal immunochemical test) which test for hidden blood and/or abnormal cells in the stool - as well as visual screening exams, such as colonoscopy.

With at-home stool-based tests, you collect small stool samples and the testing kits are mailed back or returned to your healthcare provider. This screening should be done once a year. If blood or abnormal cells are detected, timely follow up with a colonoscopy is recommended.

Colonoscopy is a procedure done under sedation, where the health care provider looks for polyps or cancer in the rectum and the entire colon. Colonoscopies can also prevent cancer by removing polyps when they are found. These exams require a full colon cleansing (prep) started the day before the test. A colonoscopy is done every 10 years, or as advised by your medical provider.

To help determine which screening test is best for you, talk with your medical provider about the benefits and risks of each screening option, as well as your family history, personal risk factors and preferences. Keep in mind that the best test is the one that actually gets done!

Most insurance plans, including Medicare, help pay for colorectal cancer screening. Check with your health insurance provider to learn more about your colorectal cancer screening benefits. If you don’t have insurance that covers colonoscopy, contact your health department for assistance with resources and options for screening.

In addition to getting regular screenings for cancer when you are 45 or older, consider taking some of these steps to lower your risk of colorectal cancer:

     1. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains from breads, cereals, nuts, and beans.

     2. Eat a low-fat diet.

     3. Eat foods with folate such as leafy green vegetables. A daily multivitamin containing 0.4 milligrams of folic               acid may also be helpful.

     4. If you use alcohol, drink only in moderation.

     5. If you use tobacco, quit.

     6. Exercise for at least 20 minutes three to four days each week. Moderate exercise such as walking,                             gardening, or climbing steps may help reduce your risk.

South Heartland District Health Department is offering free FIT colorectal cancer screening kits to complete at home. If you have not had any colorectal cancer screening in the past year, you may request a FREE screening kit by calling the South Heartland District Health Department at 402-462-6211 (toll free at 1-877-238-7595).

Don’t put it off, make a commitment today to get screened for colorectal cancer and take measures to lower your risk!

For more information on colorectal cancer, visit the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention website (https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/index.htm) or the Nebraska Colon Cancer Screening Program website (https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Nebraska-Colon-Cancer-Screening-Program.aspx). A personal colon cancer risk assessment tool is available through the National Cancer Institute: www.cancer.gov/colorectalcancerrisk/.

Michele Bever is the executive director for South Heartland District Health Department, serving Adams, Clay, Nuckolls and Webster Counties in Nebraska. She may be reached at 402-462-6211 or toll free at 1- 877-238-7595.

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