Keep the details together
Collect pathology, exact cancer location, stage, imaging, surgery notes, and previous treatment. Relevant molecular results may include MMR/MSI and, in some settings, RAS or BRAF testing.
Your colorectal health.
A clearer path forward.
Connect your screening history, family history, and everyday changes. Understand your options and make the next conversation count.
Your colorectal health overview
Your history
- Age
- 47 years
- Last screening
- Not recorded
- Family history
- Needs a few details
Your records
Past colonoscopy or stool test
Keep test type, date, and result together
Your next conversation
Which screening options fit my history and preferences?
A QUESTION TO BRING TO YOUR CLINICIANKnow when to start.
Know what comes next.
Preventive colorectal screening is for people without symptoms. The right starting age and test depend on your history and risk.
For average-risk adults
The USPSTF recommends screening from age 45 through 75. From ages 76–85, the decision is individual and considers previous screening, overall health, and preferences. See the recommendation.
A choice of tests
Options include stool tests and tests that examine the colon, such as colonoscopy. Their schedules and preparation differ. An abnormal stool screening test needs follow-up colonoscopy. Explore the options.
Prior polyps, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, certain inherited syndromes, or a strong family history may call for a different plan. Bleeding or other new symptoms need evaluation rather than a routine screening shortcut.
01
Bring your history together
Add previous tests, relevant history, and the changes you have noticed.
02
Understand the context
Explore guidance, see what is missing, and keep your questions visible.
03
Prepare for the conversation
Bring a useful history and focused questions to your care team.
The details
that matter.
A date alone is not the whole screening history. Test type, findings, family history, and follow-up help make the picture useful.
A guide to the information to collect. You do not need to enter any personal information on this page.
01Age, symptoms, and screening goals
Your age, whether you have symptoms, your general health, and what matters to you when choosing a test. Note practical considerations such as preparation, time off, transport, and follow-up access.
02Previous tests and polyps
Dates, types, and results of stool tests, colonoscopies, and other colorectal tests. For a colonoscopy, include preparation quality, polyp number and size, pathology, and the recommended repeat interval when available.
03Family and inherited risk
Which relatives had colorectal cancer or advanced polyps, their relationship to you, and their age at diagnosis. Include known Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, or genetic test results.
04Personal history and medicines
Any previous colorectal cancer, polyps, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis; relevant surgeries; and your medicines. These details help a clinician decide whether you need routine screening, surveillance, or diagnostic evaluation.
Symptom journalTHIS WEEK
Today · 7:45 am
Bowel pattern
Recorded frequency and consistency
Yesterday · 4:00 pm
Abdominal discomfort
Noted location, duration, and severity
Monday · 8:00 pm
Energy
Added changes in day-to-day activity
Dates, details, and the impact on your day.
Everyday changes.
A useful record.
Capture bowel patterns and symptoms with dates and context. A simple history can help you explain what feels different and how it affects daily life.
- Bowel frequency, consistency, and urgency
- Visible blood, abdominal pain, and bloating
- Appetite, weight, energy, and recent medicines
Already diagnosed?
Your context matters.
A diagnosis brings new information and decisions. Keep the specifics of colon or rectal cancer visible as you explore treatment and research.
Understand your options
Explore the role of surgery, medicines, radiation in some rectal cancers, and supportive care. Colon and rectal cancer treatment pathways can differ; your care team can explain what applies to you.
Make trial research relevant
Use cancer location, stage, molecular findings, and prior treatment to understand trial requirements. Compare study purpose, visits, location, and possible burdens. A trial team must confirm eligibility.
Use what you learn to ask more focused questions and make decisions with your care team.
NCI: colorectal cancer treatmentA few common
questions.
Do I need screening if I feel well?
Screening is designed for people without symptoms. Whether and when to screen depends on age and risk. New symptoms instead need a clinical assessment.
Can I choose a stool test instead of a colonoscopy?
There are several accepted screening strategies for average-risk people. Discuss how often each is needed, the preparation involved, and whether you can complete any required follow-up. Higher-risk histories can change the available choices.
What if a relative had colorectal cancer?
Record the relative’s relationship to you and age at diagnosis, plus any other affected relatives or genetic findings. These details may change the recommended starting age or screening approach.
Is bowel tracking a screening test?
No. A symptom log helps you describe changes; it cannot rule cancer in or out. Persistent bleeding, unexplained weight loss, or ongoing changes should be assessed by a clinician.
The sources
behind the context.
U.S. guidance and patient education.
Reviewed for this draft: November 2026.
Recommendations can change. A clinician should confirm which guidance applies to your situation.
Your history.
A clearer screening conversation.
Bring your history, questions, and next steps together.
Start my health story