Essentials to Colon Health

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and in women in the United States, excluding skin cancers. It is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States in both men and women and is expected to cause about 50,830 deaths (26,300 men and 24,530 women) during 2013. The good news is that this number has decreased. In 2005, approximately 56,000 people died from colorectal cancer.
Screening/Early Detection
Regular screening can help prevent colorectal cancer through diagnosis at an early, curable stage or through removal of precancerous polyps. Beginning at age 50, both men and women at average risk for developing colorectal cancer should have a screening colonoscopy and then repeat the procedure every 10 years. Colonoscopy, when performed by a well-trained endoscopist, gastroenterologist or surgeon, is the most effective screening test for colon cancer because it allows for the detection and removal of precancerous polyps before they turn into cancer.
What is colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is a common and very safe procedure that examines the lining of your lower intestinal tract called the colon or large intestine. Colonoscopy means “to look inside the colon.”
A doctor specially trained in the procedure uses a flexible tube that has a light and miniature TV camera on the tip. This instrument, often referred to as the “scope,” is placed in the rectum and advanced through the colon. It is connected to a television monitor that your doctor watches while performing the test. Various miniaturized tools can be inserted through the scope to help your doctor obtain biopsies (samples) of the colon and to perform a wide range of maneuvers to help diagnose or treat your condition.
When used as a colon cancer prevention method, colonoscopy can find potentially precancerous growths called polyps and remove them before they turn into cancer. This explains why colonoscopy is an invaluable tool that helps your doctor answer important questions about your digestive health and prevent certain diseases like colon cancer.
Is colonoscopy painful?
A colonoscopy is a very comfortable exam because it is usually done with intravenous sedation. This means that you will be in a very sleepy state during the procedure. Most patients are not even aware that the procedure has happened when they wake up.
For more information, please contact Jersey Shore Gastroenterology at 609-465-0060, or www.jerseyshoregastro.com.