Guarding your health at any age is really important, but as you grow older, the need to remain healthy becomes ever more obvious. With those little aches and pains comes worry about longevity.
This is a normal phase of life. But, staying on top of colon cancer screenings is a sure way you can increase your odds of avoiding preventable disasters. At the top of this list for those in their 50s and beyond is colon cancer screening. While colon cancer screening certainly is not fun, it is something we can do that is, in the end, painless, easy and potentially life-saving. Many would agree, that it is well worth the discomfort.
The Facts
Some facts about colorectal cancer include those provided by sources like The National Institutes of Health and The National Cancer Society. Among them are:
- Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in the United States for both genders. It most often occurs in people over age 50.
- Estimates suggest that greater than 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year. More than 50,000 die annually of this disease, making it the second leading cause of cancer death in this country.
- Colorectal cancer often originates as a polyp inside the colon or rectum wall. These can be benign but may develop into cancer over time.
- While colorectal cancer can spread to other areas if left undetected, the incidence of related deaths has been greatly reduced in recent years due to colon cancer screening efforts, including colonoscopies/sigmoidoscopies, removal of polyps and annual stool tests which check for blood in the stool.
- Colorectal cancer found early on is highly treatable. However, early stages have no symptoms, which is why colon cancer screening is so important.
Common Colon Cancer Screening Efforts
Given the above, getting screened is a must-do. See your doctor for regular annual check-ups and if a referral is required by your insurance, obtain a written prescription to see a gastroenterologist who can easily work with your primary care doctor to perform comprehensive colon cancer screening efforts based on your risk level. These will likely include a scheduled outpatient procedure called a colonoscopy around age 50, an in-office procedure called a sigmoidoscopy and the commencement of annual occult fecal blood tests (which can be administered at home with the use of a kit provided by your doctor). There are some other alternative tests that are more rarely performed in lieu of these that can be outlined by your doctor.
The Process of a Colonoscopy/Sigmoidoscopy
The colonoscopy procedure only takes a few hours out of your day in total. You will be given medication to help you relax, and many people fall asleep upon administration. The doctor will insert a flexible tube with a camera into your rectum and check for polyps in your colon. A sigmoidoscopy can occur in your primary care office, and it looks at only the lower part of your colon. If you are polyp-free, you’re likely good for another five years (10 years for colonoscopy procedures) or however long your doctor deems necessary. If anything suspicious shows up, a sample will be taken and sent to the lab, or the polyp will be immediately removed. You will be notified about where to go from there. Keep in mind that a great number of polyp samples come back benign. And if you follow the recommendations for colon cancer screening and the test does show cancer is present, you can feel confident you have likely caught it early.
Preparation
You do need to prepare for colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy procedures, usually referred to as bowel prep. You will be given information by your doctor on what medications to take and what to eat and drink to empty your bowel. You will likely have to fast for at least a day prior to the test and take care to eat lightly for up to a few days before.
When to Begin Colon Cancer Screening: The CDC recommends that average-risk patients begin colon cancer
screenings at age 50 and continue throughout 75 years old, with a fecal occult blood test every year, a sigmoidoscopy every five years and an optical colonoscopy (looks at the whole colon) every 10. If something is found during screening, you may be advised to follow up sooner. However, according to the NIH, if someone is African American, of Jewish descent or has a family history of colon cancer, your doctor may advise you to be screened for colon cancer earlier than 50. As well, if you have Irritable Bowel or Crohn’s disease or if you have other risks such as being obese, have a sedentary lifestyle, are a smoker, or consume excessive amounts of alcohol, you may as well have increased risk and require earlier screening. Your doctor can give you the proper recommendation.
While the potential for colorectal cancer is a harsh reality that we must face as we age, taking care of your health is a noble pursuit toward better outcomes for patients that do develop this dangerous disease. Not only for yourself but as a safeguard for those you love who wouldn’t want to live without you, inquire about screening today. Good luck, congratulations on becoming more informed about your health and when it’s time, happy screening!
If you still have questions, schedule an appointment or call our office today!