COLON CANCER SCREENING

Colon Cancer Screening

What is Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer is the second deadliest form of cancer for men and women in the United States. Each year 150,000 people will be diagnosed with colon cancer and 50,000 people will die from it. That's scary. Many times there are no warning signs or the symptoms can be mistaken for something else. That's scarier. There is good news though. You can do something.

Screening is the first step in preventing colon cancer. The most frequent method of screening is a colonoscopy. In a colonoscopy, your gastroenterologist uses tube with a tiny video camera and light to look at the entire large intestine (also known as the colon). If there are any growths (called polyps), your doctor can remove them since certain polyps can be precancerous. Most polyps are harmless. Perhaps as you've aged, you've found a few skin tags or extra moles? These are similar.

If precancerous polyps are removed early, they are no longer able to develop into cancer. That's great news. If cancerous polyps are found in the early stages and the cancer is only in the polyp, the cancer may have been completely removed during the colonoscopy. More great news. If, after screening, your doctor finds evidence of cancer, there are additional treatments available. The sooner you are screened, the sooner you can take action.

Once you've been screened, your gastroenterologist will make some suggestions for other actions you can take to keep healthy. These may include adding fruits, whole grains or vegetables to your diet, losing weight, exercising, stopping smoking or reducing alcohol consumption. He or she will also tell you when you need to come back for another screening. Whether you need to come back every year, in three years, in five years or every ten years will depend on your lifestyle and how many polyps your doctor found in the initial screening.

If you'd like more information on what happens during a colonoscopy and how to prepare for it, please click here. If you are interested in learning more about colon cancer, screening or for lifestyle suggestions that can help prevent colon cancer, take a look at our resources list at the bottom of this page. Whatever else you do, schedule your appointment now.

Just Turned 45?

Happy Birthday! With age comes wisdom and the need for colon cancer screening. Give yourself the gift of peace of mind knowing that you've taken the first step in preventing colon cancer. Schedule your appointment now.

Do You Celebrate Life?

We all go overboard on occasion. If you smoke, drink or indulge in a high-fat diet you are at a higher risk for colon cancer. If regular exercise is not a part of your routine or if you are overweight or have diabetes you may need screening before you turn fifty. Schedule an appointment and let us help you determine if the time is now for you to be screened.

Family History Buff?

Knowing our family history can be fascinating. Knowing our family medical history can save lives. If a close relative has been diagnosed or treated for colon cancer, learn from them. Schedule your appointment now to be screened. Remember the first step in prevention is screening.

Schedule an Appointment

So you're having a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a way for your doctor to look at and examine your entire colon using a lighted tube with a built-in camera called a colonoscope. While the procedure itself takes about 30 minutes you can expect to spend several hours at the Endoscopy Center including your prep time and time in recovery.

If you've been diarrhea, constipation or other symptoms of the lower gastrointestinal tract a colonoscopy can help determine the cause. Colonoscopy is also used for colon cancer screening.

A colonoscopy is more accurate than an x-ray and your doctor can also take a tissue sample (biopsy) during the procedure if needed.

Preparing for Your Procedure:

So that your doctor can examine the colon, it needs to be clean and empty. This means you won't be able to eat solid food for one day before your procedure. You may be allowed clear liquids. Your doctor may also ask you to stop taking certain medications including blood thinners and iron pills. You will also be given a prescription for a liquid laxative that will help clean your colon. It is important that you drink plenty of water and keep yourself well-hydrated during this time. Make sure you arrive about 15 minutes before your appointment time with any paperwork already completed.

During Your Procedure:

The colonoscopy takes about 30 minutes for most people but can be longer depending on how many samples your doctor needs to take. You will lay on your side and will have an IV put in for your anesthetist to administer sedation.

Once you are sedated, the colonoscope is inserted through the rectum and gently moved through the colon. Your doctor will view images on a monitor and can also take pictures of these areas for your medical records. If needed, one or more tissue samples will be taken.

The colonoscope is removed and sterilized and you are moved to a recovery area to allow the anesthesia to wear off.

Aftercare:

Once you are fully awake, your doctor will review any initial findings with you. If a tissue sample was taken, it will take several days for the lab to examine it and let the doctor know what was found. Your doctor will be able to tell you when he or she expects the results back. You may need a follow up visit if the colonoscopy is done to find the cause of a symptom that now needs treatment.

You must have someone drive you home. Once home, you can eat normally. You should plan on resting that day but can resume normal activities the next day. Occasionally people will have some bloating, or cramping but these symptoms should be mild and disappear rapidly. If these get worse or fail to get better over time, please call our office. Most people are just hungry after their procedure.