Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the world, so colon cancer is a serious health problem that requires attention.
There are many ways to reduce your risk and even prevent colon cancer. The best thing you can do to prevent colon cancer is to be screened.
Question: Why is colon cancer screening important?
Answer: Colon cancer is caused by a small polyp that forms on the mucosa (inner surface) of the colon. This small polyp gradually grows larger and larger. Once large enough, this polyp develops cancer and begins to spread.
It is important to remember that the process of developing cancer from a polyp takes approximately 10 years. Screening is very important to catch the polyp before it turns into cancer.
Think of a polyp as a mushroom sitting on its stem. If a surgeon sees the polyp with a colonoscopy, he or she can cut and remove the polyp.
Question: How do you screen for colon cancer?
Answer: There is more than one way to screen for colon cancer today.
These options include:
• Colonoscopy: Before the colonoscopy, you will be asked to prepare your bowel by drinking a liquid that helps cleanse your large intestine. Next, doctors use a device with a camera attached to one end to examine the inside of the colon for polyps or cancer. The examination may cause discomfort, so you may be given sedatives or put to sleep during the procedure. If a polyp is found, your doctor may remove it at the same time.
• Fecal occult blood test: This test detects blood in the stool. You place a small stool sample on a provided card and send it to a laboratory that performs a blood test. If there is evidence of blood, your doctor may recommend you to have a colonoscopy for further examination.
• Sigmoidoscopy: Sigmoidoscopy detects 60 percent of cancers. It is another type of examination that looks at the lower third of the large intestine.
• Barium enema: During this test, barium liquid is put into the intestine through an enema and an x-ray is then taken. Barium can detect any polyps or cancer for the doctor examining the x-ray.
• Virtual colonoscopy: A type of colonoscopy performed with a tomography scan, the sensitivity of which is normal. less than noscopy.
Question: How do you know which screening is best for you?
Answer: Most doctors recommend that healthy people over age 50 have a colonoscopy every 10 years. The majority of colon cancers develop after the age of 50. Colonoscopy is the most effective way for doctors to detect colon cancer.
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