5 signs that you need to have a colonoscopy before the age of 45

“People who are at highest risk (because of) family history or symptoms should have a colonoscopy,” Ness said. But if you’re 45 or older and have no risk factors, and you’re avoiding screening because of fear of colonoscopy or setup problems, you have other screening options: Included Stool tests and CT scans.

“The most important thing is to get tested if you are of screening age,” Ness said. “The biggest problem now…is that we are only screening about 70% of the population at risk, which means 30% are not being screened. We have shown that we can reduce colorectal cancer mortality by at least 50% through active screening.

As mentioned above, rates of colorectal cancer in young people are rising. Just because guidelines say you can wait until you’re 45 to get colorectal cancer screening, doesn’t mean you should.

“Something has happened,” Macron explained. “There is clearly an upward trend… The curve has been rising since the 1950s.” “And when you look at the numbers, those born in the 1990s have twice the risk of colon cancer and four times the risk of rectal cancer compared to those born in the 1950s.”

So, it’s important to take your family history, personal health history, and symptoms seriously. If you have any concerns, no matter how small, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor about having a colonoscopy.

However, while you wait for your appointment, it is important not to panic. The symptoms described above don’t definitively mean you have colon cancer, but they “could be a sign that something is going on that warrants a colonoscopy, and one of those things could be colon cancer causing your symptoms to change,” Duiker said.

Being on top of your health is never a bad idea. At the very least, it can help you control any bothersome symptoms. In some cases, it may save your life.

“Colorectal cancer is preventable, so please take advantage of available testing to find it early and remove polyps that turn into cancer before they have a chance to do so,” Ness said.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.