If you could cure cancer, would you? Let’s do one better. Let’s prevent it. Here’s the thing: Almost every patient I’ve diagnosed with colorectal cancer has missed their recommended colonoscopy screening date.
Having a colonoscopy screening is that important. It could save your life. It’s one of the true prevention tools, as opposed to simply a cancer detection tool.
During a colonoscopy screening, polyps (small, non-cancerous growths) can be removed before they ever turn into cancer. If, by chance, cancer is detected during the screening, the chances of surviving are much better if the cancer is caught early.
Colonoscopy, like other screenings tests, isn’t perfect at preventing or detecting cancer. But, with regular check-ups with your primary care provider, and by paying close attention to your body, it is your best chance. We can prevent this disease. That’s even better than a cure.
Colonoscopy screening is recommended every ten years starting at age 50. For those who may have higher risk factors, it should be done more often, so talk with your healthcare provider about your history of cancer, your family’s history, and any abnormal things happening with your bowel movements, stomach or rectum.
But remember – 80 percent of cancers are sporadic (no obvious genetic connection), and many times, like with my own father, colorectal cancer can be growing without any symptoms at all.
There are so many steps we can take to give ourselves the best chance at avoiding colorectal cancer. None of them are particularly surprising, because they’re probably the same pieces of advice your primary care provider is giving you: eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables, exercise frequently and maintain a healthy weight, and avoid tobacco products, including chew, cigarettes, and cigars.
Still – to give yourself the best chance at preventing colorectal cancer, you need to follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for colonoscopy screening.
Other screening tests may also provide a glimpse at your colorectal health, but it’s important to note that they aren’t considered prevention tools, but more early detection tools.
These include home-testing kits, where you can take a stool sample at home and send it to a lab for processing to determine if you have blood in the stool that you can’t necessarily see. Some home testing kits also test for the genetic makeup of cancer cells that could indicate the presence of cancer.
These tests may be useful, but are not considered the best tool for detecting cancer. Still, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider about the test or tests that are right for you. In the end, taking action is better than ignoring the possibility altogether.
I always tell my patient to pay attention to symptoms that you might be inclined to ignore or pass off as something else. For example, someone who has known hemorrhoids may not be surprised by a small amount of blood during a bowel movement. But this could be a sign of cancer, and any time blood is detected as part of a bowel movement, it’s important to get checked immediately. What you may consider a trivial thing could mean the difference between early- or late-stage cancer. Other things to pay attention to are changes in your bowel habits, dark or black-colored stools, cramping in the lower stomach, severe constipation or trouble urinating, feeling like you have to have a bowel movement when there is nothing there, and unintentional weight loss.
Don’t get scared; many of these things are similar to other conditions as well, and don’t necessarily mean you have cancer. But ignoring them isn’t good, either.
Regular check-ups with your doctor, and recommended colorectal cancer screening, you have the power to prevent colon cancer all together. At the very least, you could detect it early.
For more information, about colorectal cancer screening, visit the American Cancer Society online at cancer.org.
Dr. Alexander Igolnikov is a gastroenterologist, also knowns as a digestive care physician, who knows what it’s like to have a loved one face colorectal cancer. That’s why he takes special interest in helping the community know the importance of colorectal cancer screening. Dr. Igolnikov also takes care of other digestive conditions, and is pleased when his patients find relief for problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, GERD, and other issues. To make an appointment in his La Porte office, call 219.324.0875.
