Community Health Outreach and Education

Colorectal Cancer

It is important to have your colon checked.

Lower Your Risk Screening Information Sheets Resources Contact Us

Lower Your Risk

Colorectal cancer includes cancers of the large intestine (colon), the lower part of the digestive system and the rectum. Colorectal cancer does not always have symptoms so it is important to have your colon checked. The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45.

Take this risk assessment to see if you need to talk with your doctor about more frequent or earlier screening for colorectal cancer.

Ask your doctor:

Home colorectal cancer screening tests.
Colonoscopy.
Colonography (also called virtual colonoscopy, this low-dose screening uses CT tomography for a non-invasive view inside the colon).
Flexible sigmoidoscopy.

Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms:

Unexplained change in bowel habits.
Chronic diarrhea or constipation.
Blood in the stool.
Narrow, pencil-thin stools.
A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely.
Persistent abdominal pain.
Unexpected or sudden weight loss.
Chronic tiredness or unexplained fatigue.

Click here to Find a Doctor or call us at 800-693-CARE.

Screening for Life and Health Care Connection

Don’t let lack of insurance or copays keep you from getting screened!

Screening for Life and the Health Care Connection Screening for Life provides payment for cancer screening tests recommended by your doctor if you meet age, income and insurance guidelines. This program is a cooperative effort of the Delaware Division of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Health Care Connection simplifies the eligibility screening process to help uninsured Delawareans access primary care and medical specialists, disease prevention services — such as cancer screenings — and helps ensure access to prescription programs, laboratory and radiology services.

To learn more, call 302-623-4661 or visit Screening For Life or the Health Care Connection & Voluntary Initiative Program.

Know Your Risk

Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment

Knowing your risk profile will enable you to take control of your health and provide you with the best defense against colorectal cancer.

This free risk assessment will take about 5 minutes to complete. At the end, you will receive personalized, strictly confidential information that will help you in assess and if necessary take action.

Take Assessment

Information Sheets

Please use these promotional materials for raising awareness about Colon Cancer Screening for your community, family and friends. This flyer is available in English, Spanish and Mandarin.

Download in English

Download in Spanish

Download in Mandarin

An image sample of the Colorectal Cancer awareness information sheet that is available for download

Additional Resources

For the Love of Health Podcast

Learn more about Dr. Bruce Boman, medical director of Cancer Genetics and Stem Cell Biology at ChristianaCare, and how his team's research continues to make strides towards finding a cure for colon cancer, on the ChristianaCare podcast, For the Love of Health.

More Episodes