Colon Cancer Concerns

Colon cancer is one of the more dangerous forms of cancer, in fact it is the second leading cause of deaths among cancers.  Fortunately, it has a precancerous phase that can be detected.  These early growths can be removed, preventing this deadly disease.  Detection occurs through a procedure called a colonoscopy.  Now, I realize that contemplating a scope being inserted into the colon is not a pleasant experience.   It is not quite as bad as the imagination would suggest.  The procedure itself is done under sedation and is tolerated well.  The worse part of the test is getting cleaned out the night before.  The good news is that if the test is normal and there is no family history of colon cancer, it need not be repeated for ten years.

Now, surely, you ask, there must be a better way.  How about those virtual colonoscopies I heard about on T.V.?  This can be done, but here are the details.  The preparation is the same.  It is done by a CT scanner after dye and air have been forced up into and through the colon.  This does not feel good and no sedation is used.  If anything abnormal is detected, a full colonoscopy will need to follow so that a biopsy can be obtained.  Personally, I would rather have the better test and be done with it.  What about using those little cards to detect blood in the colon?  The problem with those is that there is a pretty high false positive rate.  It also misses many precancerous growths.  If the polyps do not happen to cause bleeding, nothing will be protected.  Is a colonoscopy really necessary?, my patients ask.  I respond that I cannot remember having diagnosed a patient with colon cancer who has been screened.  As opposed to screening for breast or prostate cancer which hopes to detect cancer at an early stage and cure it, screening for colon cancer finds growths before they have turned cancerous and thus the disease never develops in the first place.

When does screening begin?  A person at average risk should be screened beginning at age 50.  If someone has a family history of cancer or precancerous polyps in a first degree relative (parent or sibling), they should be screened starting 10 years prior to their affected relative or by age 50, whichever comes first.

Most agree that a diet high in natural vitamins and fiber decrease your risk of colon cancer.  There are, of course, found in fruits and vegetables.  Genetics play an important role as well.  Make sure you ask your family members if they have been screened and if any polyps were found.  Make sure you get screened.  Talk to your doctor about your individual risk.  It may well save your life.