Bowel Cancer Screening in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Bowel cancer (also called colorectal cancer) is the third most common cancer affecting Americans and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. In Michigan, including the Grand Rapids area, regular bowel cancer screening is one of the most effective ways to prevent serious illness and save lives.

Cold West Michigan winters, more time indoors, and lifestyle factors like diet and physical activity can all influence bowel cancer risk. That makes staying up to date with screening especially important for adults in Grand Rapids and across Kent County.

Who Is at Risk for Bowel (Colorectal) Cancer?

  • If you are 45 or older, your risk of bowel cancer increases.
  • Risk continues to rise with age, especially after 50.
  • A family history of bowel or colorectal cancer, certain genetic conditions, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), smoking, obesity, and low physical activity can all increase your risk.

If you live in Grand Rapids or nearby communities (Wyoming, Kentwood, Walker, Grandville, etc.), talk with your doctor at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health about your personal risk and the best screening plan for you.

Bowel Cancer Can Develop With No Symptoms

Bowel cancer can grow quietly in the colon or rectum for years before causing any obvious symptoms or spreading to other parts of the body. Many people feel completely well when early cancers or pre-cancerous polyps are present.

Because symptoms may appear late, screening is crucial.
If bowel cancer is found early through screening, treatment is often simpler, more effective, and survival rates are much higher.

When Should You Start Bowel Cancer Screening?

For most people in Grand Rapids and across Michigan:

  • Average risk adults: Start screening at age 45 and continue through age 75, as long as you are in good health.
  • Higher risk adults (family history or other factors): You may need to start earlier than 45 or be screened more often.

Talk with your primary care provider at a local clinic or health system (for example, Spectrum Health Primary Care, Trinity Health Family Medicine, Metro Health family practices, or Mercy Health clinics) to determine:

  • The right starting age
  • The type of test that is best for you
  • How often you should be screened

Common Bowel Cancer Screening Options

In Grand Rapids, common colorectal cancer screening tests include:

1. Home Stool (Poop) Tests

These are simple tests you can do at home:

  • FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test) or FOBT (Fecal Occult Blood Test)
    • Looks for tiny amounts of blood in your stool that you can’t see.
    • Usually done once a year.
    • Often provided by your doctor, mailed to you, or picked up at a clinic.

2. Colonoscopy

  • A doctor uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera to look inside your colon and rectum.
  • Can find and remove polyps (small growths that can turn into cancer).
  • Usually repeated every 10 years for people at average risk, if results are normal.

Other tests (like stool DNA tests or flexible sigmoidoscopy) may also be options. Your Grand Rapids healthcare provider can guide you on which test fits your health, preferences, and insurance coverage.

How to Do a Home Bowel Screening Test

If your doctor gives you a home stool test kit (FIT/FOBT), it is designed to be:

  • Simple
  • Private
  • Done at home

Basic Steps

  1. Read the instructions
    Every kit comes with step-by-step instructions. Follow them carefully.

  2. Collect tiny samples

    • You will take small samples from 1–2 separate bowel movements (poops).
    • The kit includes everything you need (collection tools, tubes/cards, and a return envelope).

  3. Seal and return the kit

    • Place the samples in the provided container.
    • Use the prepaid mailer or return instructions to send it to the lab.

  4. Wait for your results

    • Results are usually available within about 2 weeks.
    • Your doctor’s office will contact you by phone, mail, or through an online patient portal (such as MyChart used by Spectrum Health and other systems).

Coping With Anxiety While You Wait

It’s normal to feel nervous while waiting for test results. You might find it helpful to:

  • Talk with a close friend or family member about how you’re feeling.
  • Reach out to your primary care provider with questions.
  • Contact local support resources, such as:
    • Kent County Health Department
    • Grand Rapids Public Health programs
    • Cancer support services through local hospitals and the American Cancer Society

Understanding Your Bowel Cancer Screening Results

Negative Result (No Blood Detected)

A negative result means:

  • The test did not find blood in your stool.

However, this does not guarantee:

  • That you will never get bowel cancer, or
  • That you definitely do not have cancer now.

Reasons:

  • Some bowel cancers do not bleed.
  • Some cancers or polyps only bleed sometimes, and may be missed on a single test.
  • The test detects most (up to about 85%) but not all bowel cancers.

What you should do next:

  • Continue to repeat the screening test regularly (often every 1–2 years, depending on the test and your doctor’s advice).
  • See your doctor immediately if you notice symptoms, even after a negative test, including:
    • Unusual changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool lasting more than a few weeks)
    • Blood in your stool or on the toilet paper
    • Persistent stomach or abdominal pain
    • Unexplained weight loss
    • Ongoing fatigue

In Grand Rapids, you can schedule an appointment with your primary care provider at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health if any of these symptoms appear.

Positive Result (Blood Detected)

A positive result means:

  • The test found blood in your stool.

This does not always mean cancer. Blood in the stool can be caused by many conditions, such as:

  • Polyps (growths in the colon or rectum)
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Inflammation of the bowel, such as:
    • Crohn’s disease
    • Ulcerative colitis
  • Small tears or other non-cancer causes

Even so, you must be checked further to find the cause of the bleeding.

Next Step After a Positive Test: Colonoscopy

If your bowel cancer screening test is positive, your doctor will usually refer you for a colonoscopy. In Grand Rapids, colonoscopies are commonly performed at major hospitals and endoscopy centers, including:

  • Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
  • Mercy Health Saint Mary’s (part of Trinity Health)

What a Colonoscopy Can Do

During a colonoscopy, a gastroenterologist can:

  • Find the source of bleeding
  • Remove polyps before they turn into cancer
  • Take biopsies (small tissue samples) for testing
  • Confirm or rule out a diagnosis of bowel cancer

Colonoscopy is both a diagnostic and preventive tool, making it one of the most important follow-up tests after a positive stool screening.

Local Bowel Cancer Screening Resources in Grand Rapids

If you live in Grand Rapids or the surrounding Kent County area, you have several options for bowel cancer screening and support:

Medical Providers

  • Spectrum Health (Corewell Health) – Primary care, gastroenterology, colonoscopy services
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids – Family medicine, GI specialists, endoscopy
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health – Colorectal screening and GI care
  • Mercy Health – Primary care and specialty GI services

Public Health and Community Resources

  • Kent County Health Department
    Offers information on cancer screening programs and may connect you with low-cost or sliding-scale services.

  • Grand Rapids Public Health Programs
    Can help residents find local clinics and screening options.

  • American Cancer Society (Michigan Region)
    Provides education, support services, and guidance on screening.

If you need help finding a doctor, check local health system websites or call their patient access lines to ask specifically about colorectal cancer screening in Grand Rapids, MI.

When to Call a Doctor in Grand Rapids

Seek medical advice promptly if you:

  • Are 45 or older and have never been screened.
  • Have a family history of bowel or colorectal cancer.
  • Notice blood in your stool or on toilet paper.
  • Experience lasting changes in bowel habits.
  • Have unexplained weight loss or ongoing fatigue.
  • Receive a positive stool test result.

You can start by contacting:

  • Your primary care doctor or local clinic
  • A gastroenterology practice at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health
  • The Kent County Health Department for help finding screening services

Key Points About Bowel Cancer Screening in Grand Rapids, MI

  • Bowel (colorectal) cancer is the third most common cancer in Americans and the second leading cause of cancer-related death.
  • If you are 45 or over, your risk of bowel cancer is higher, and you should talk with a doctor about screening.
  • Bowel cancer often develops without symptoms, which is why regular screening is so important.
  • Screening adults 45–75 years old who have no symptoms helps find cancer early, when it is easier to treat.
  • A negative test does not guarantee you are cancer-free; keep screening regularly and watch for symptoms.
  • A positive test means blood was found; it does not always mean cancer, but you will need a colonoscopy to find the cause.
  • Grand Rapids residents can access screening through major health systems, community clinics, and public health programs in Kent County.

By staying informed and up to date with bowel cancer screening, adults in Grand Rapids, Michigan, can significantly reduce their risk of advanced colorectal cancer and improve long-term health.