• yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT)* or fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
• flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
• yearly FOBT* or FIT, plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years**
• double-contrast barium enema every 5 years
• colonoscopy every 10 years

*For FOBT, the take-home multiple sample method should be used. **The combination of yearly FOBT or FIT flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years is preferred over either of these options alone.

All positive tests should be followed up with colonoscopy.

People should talk to their doctor about starting colorectal cancer screening earlier and/or undergoing screening more often if they have any of the following colorectal cancer risk factors:

• a personal history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps
• a strong family history of colorectal cancer or polyps (cancer or polyps in a first-degree relative [parent, sibling, or child] younger than 60 or in 2 first-degree relatives of any age)
• a personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease
• a family history of an hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome (familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer)