Colorectal Cancer Screening: What Medical Assistants Need to Know-Colorectal Cancer Screening: What Medical Assistants Need to Know

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This EMA podcast episode focuses on colorectal cancer screening and the vital role medical assistants play in improving prevention and early detection. Dr. Dorado Brooks explains that colorectal cancer begins when abnormal cells grow in the colon or rectum and can spread if not found early. While colon and rectal cancers may be treated differently, the same screening tests detect both.<br /><br />Colorectal cancer is common in the U.S. (about 159,000 new cases and 55,000 deaths expected this year), with higher burden and lower screening rates in some groups, including Native American/Alaska Native and African American communities. A troubling trend is rising cases in younger adults, prompting guidelines to lower average-risk screening from age 50 to 45; it is now a leading cause of cancer death under age 50.<br /><br />Risk factors include age, smoking, obesity, poor diet, type 2 diabetes, and especially family history, which may require earlier screening. Warning signs—often minimized—include blood in stool, bowel habit changes, abdominal pain, weight loss, constipation, and pencil-thin stools.<br /><br />Dr. Brooks emphasizes screening can prevent cancer by finding and removing polyps. Early-stage detection has ~90% five-year survival versus ~14% if metastatic. Screening options include colonoscopy (every 10 years if normal) and stool tests (FIT and multi-target stool DNA/Cologuard). Because colonoscopy capacity and patient acceptance are limited, offering choices, education, navigation, reminders, and ensuring follow-up colonoscopy after abnormal stool tests are key strategies.

Keywords

colorectal cancer screening

medical assistants role

early detection and prevention

screening guidelines age 45

colonoscopy every 10 years

FIT stool test

multi-target stool DNA test Cologuard

risk factors and family history

follow-up colonoscopy after abnormal test