Maimonides Colon Cancer Screening Program
The expert gastroenterologists at the Maimonides Colon Cancer Screening Program provide high-quality screening and diagnostic procedures in a patient-centered, state-of-the-art environment.
There are several ways to screen for colorectal cancers. Colonoscopies are a particularly effective screening method that can help prevent cancer by allowing doctors to find and remove polyps, which are the growths in colon that may lead to colon cancer.
- The American Cancer Society (ACS)1 recommends most people (those with average risk) have their first screening at age 45, with follow-up screenings every 10 years.
- Individuals at increased or high risk of colorectal cancer might need to start colorectal cancer screening before age 45, be screened more often, or have specific tests.
Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors
According to ACS2, the following factors have been linked to colorectal cancer.
- Age – Risk goes up as you age, especially after age 50. Colorectal cancer is also rising in people younger than age 50.
- Personal or family history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer
- Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease
- Inherited syndromes such as Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer or HNPCC) or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- Racial & ethnic background
- Black Americans have the highest colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates of all racial groups in the US.
- Jewish people of Eastern European descent (Ashkenazi) have one of the highest colorectal cancer risks of any ethnic group in the world.
- Type 2 diabetes
- Lifestyle factors such as being overweight or obese, not being physically active, a diet high in red and processed meats, smoking, and alcohol use
Types of Colon Cancer Screening
While there are several types of colorectal cancer screening methods, colonoscopies are the only test that can find potentially concerning polyps and lesions and remove them.
Additional screening options may include CT colonography, sigmoidoscopy, and stool tests including DNA-based colorectal cancer screening test and fecal occult blood test. Each test has its pros and cons. Talk to your provider about the screening options that are right for you.
Schedule an Appointment for Colon Cancer Screening
To schedule an appointment for Colon Cancer Screening, you will need a referral from your Primary Care Provider. Please contact your PCP for a referral. Our fax number is (718) 635-6952.
If you do not have a doctor, we can connect you with a provider in the Maimonides network.
Call (718) 283-5900, Monday – Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Expedited appointment scheduling
- Male and female providers available
- English, Chinese, Hebrew and Russian spoken; translation services for other languages
- Most insurances accepted
If you need follow-up care, we can provide fast and easy referrals to other Maimonides specialists, including the expert team at Maimonides Cancer Center, Brooklyn’s nationally recognized Cancer Center.
Maimonides Colon Cancer Screening Locations
Maimonides Ambulatory Surgery
1025 48th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11219
Brooklyn Surgery Center
6010 Bay Parkway, 4th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11204
1 https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/acs-recommendations.html
2 https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
