If you knew that a simple, painless medical procedure would likely save your life, would you do it? Most of us would answer, “Yes, of course.” Yet only half of Americans age 50 and older have had a colonoscopy, the best screening method for colorectal cancer. In the meantime, doctors diagnose approximately 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer each year, and a third of those lead to death.
“It’s sad because this is such a preventable disease,” says Cynthia Leung, M.D., a gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Peninsula Gastroenterology Medical Group. “A recent study showed that a colonoscopy can reduce cancer risk by 77 percent. People are often nervous to do it, but it is so simple. It only takes one day, and it can save your life.”
The importance of screening for colorectal cancer stems from the way the disease develops in the colon and rectum. As people age, approximately 30 percent develop polyps, or abnormal growths, in these organs. Some of the top risk factors for developing polyps include an age over 50, a family history of colon cancer and a prior history of polyps. However, they’ve also been linked to lifestyle choices, such as smoking, obesity and lack of exercise.
For most people, those polyps turn out to be benign. However, one type of polyp, called an adenoma, may eventually turn cancerous if not removed. That’s why screening through a colonoscopy can save lives.
“It’s the only screening method that can examine the entire colon and allow for diagnosis and removal of polyps in the same session,” says Roger Kao, M.D., a gastroenterologist and hepatologist with Digestive Care Medical Center in San Carlos.
Here’s how it works:
1. The day before the procedure, the patient fasts and drinks only clear liquids, such as apple juice and water. The patient also typically takes medication designed to flush out the bowel.
2. On the day of the procedure, the patient is mildly sedated into a “twilight” state. The doctor inserts into the rectum a small tube about the size of a pinkie finger. This tube, equipped with a small camera at the end, is maneuvered through the entire colon and then slowly withdrawn while the camera delivers clear images of the colon to a screen.
3. If the doctor sees a polyp, he or she typically removes it using small devices that can be passed through the tube. Any questionable polyps can then be biopsied in a laboratory to check for cancer.
4. The entire procedure typically takes only 20 to 45 minutes, depending on how clean the colon is, how involved the procedure is and if there are polyps to be removed. After a short recovery time, the patient can go home and rest or enjoy the rest of the day.
Most physicians recommend starting colonoscopies at age 50 and repeating them at least every 10 years, as that’s typically how long it takes polyps to grow. Your doctor may decide to repeat the procedure more often, depending on your family history, your personal history, whether polyps are found and how good your clean-out was.
In recognition of March as Colon Cancer Awareness Month, give yourself the gift of good health and peace of mind by scheduling a colonoscopy or encouraging a loved one to have one.
