In recent years, The American Cancer Society announced that colon and rectal cancer screening for adults should begin at age 45 instead of 50, as previously advised. In the U.S., colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among cancers that affect both men and women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As there has been a consistent and steady drift toward colorectal cancer occurring at a younger age, it’s an important time for these new guidelines to be released.
It’s important to note that colonoscopies not only detect cancer, they can help prevent it from happening at all. Here’s what you should know about these screenings.
Types of Colorectal Screenings
Traditional colonoscopy remains the gold standard in colorectal screening simply because it’s the methodology used to view the colon, remove polyps if they’re there, and to biopsy any suspicious lesions that might be cancer.
Stool testing can look for microscopic amounts of blood or genetic material that might point to cancer, but this testing is more commonly used only if there is a need to reduce the demand for colonoscopy in a community. Those stool test results, however, may indicate the need for colonoscopy anyway.
If a patient refuses a colonoscopy or had one that was unsuccessful (their physician was unable to adequately see inside the colon due to its anatomy or other factors), a barium enema may be necessary. This is an X-ray test in which a white liquid (barium) is placed into the rectum and colon through the anus to enhance the imaging of the bowel.
How Often Do I Need to Get Screened?
If your initial colonoscopy is normal, and you have no factors that make you high risk, you can likely wait ten years between screenings.
However, this depends on a normal examination, no new symptoms, and no additional high-risk factors like strong family history, or underlying conditions such as colitis. Most people are considered average risk.
Overcoming Colonoscopy Anxiety
“A colonoscopy’s best feature is its ability to not just detect, but also prevent cancer from developing. While anxiety may arise, it is important to prioritize your screenings and address any concerns you may have with your doctor. By taking these steps you can actively reduce your risk of developing this disease,” says gastroenterologist Ahmad Samer Alawad, MD.
Almost 90 percent of colorectal cancers start as a very small benign polyp, and if that is removed during routine colonoscopy, it simply doesn’t turn into a cancer. That is not the same as a mammogram, for example, where you’re detecting what’s there, but not preventing it before it happens.
Colonoscopy does two things: it picks up cancers earlier, therefore the outcome of treatment is better, and most importantly, it actually prevents you from getting cancer. It’s enormously beneficial.
Preparation for a colonoscopy, which includes fasting as well as drinking a liquid that flushes out your system, isn’t the most enjoyable process. But the prep that we use today is much better than it was 20 years ago.
And, they are generally outpatient procedures: you’re in and out of the facility in just a few hours.
To learn more about how AdventHealth Palm Coast can guide your lifelong digestive health, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Alawad, click here.
