Colorectal cancer screening

The Importance of Colorectal Cancer Screenings

Colorectal Cancer can be an uncomfortable subject to discuss, but it is important nonetheless. When it its early stages, colorectal cancer is highly treatable. At this time, there are likely no symptoms, and no way of you knowing whether you have it or not. As the disease progresses, symptoms will start to appear, but by that point, the cancer will be much more difficult to kill, and the cancer may have already spread out of your colon. However, regular screening will allow your doctor to catch the cancer before it ever progresses that far.

Risk Factors

Risk factors are characteristics that can make a certain person more susceptible to colorectal cancer than others. People in general are more likely to develop this form of cancer if they are 50 years old, or older. You are also more likely to develop cancer if you suffer from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Crohn’s Disease, or something similar. Those who participate in risky habits such as excessive smoking, drinking, or eating red meat will be more likely to suffer from the disease than those who don’t. If you have a close family member who developed cancer, that also puts you at a greater risk.

Before the colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is the most common type of screening for patients who may have colorectal cancer. In the days leading up to the procedure, your doctor will give you instructions for what to eat and how to clear yourself of waste. Basic instructions are to stop eating solid foods, drink only clear liquids, and avoid foods artificially colored red or purple. Your doctor will likely prescribe to you either a laxative tablet or solution to take during the evening before your procedure–however the special diet will begin earlier than that. If given the solution, you may want to have another drink near by as the flavor of the solution can be quite off-putting. This part of the process may be unpleasant, but it is essential to the overall procedure.

The colonoscopy

On the day of the colonoscopy, you will be given medicine to help your body’s relax. Many patients who have received colonoscopies report that they fell asleep for the process, and hardly remember it. After the medicine has kicked in, the doctor will take a long, thin tube called a colonoscope and insert it into your colon through your rectum. Attached to the colonoscope is a light and a camera. The camera feed will appear on a screen in order for the doctor to see if there are any ulcers, polyps, etc. Often, if a doctor sees any kind of growth in your colon, they will want to remove it immediately before it has the opportunity to become cancerous.

After the procedure

After your colonoscopy is over, you will be kept in the facility for an hour or two. You will need someone else to drive you home as the sedative you were given beforehand makes driving dangerous. Once home, it is advised that you drink copious amount of water to replace any liquids your body may have lost during colon prep.  Any information collected during your colonoscopy, such a tissue sample, may need to be sent in to a lab for further analysis. You should have the results of your colonoscopy anytime from two days after to a few weeks after the initial procedure, but this will depend on when is found and how busy the lab is.

A colorectal cancer screening could save your life. It is a normal procedure which almost everyone over the age of 50 will have done. If you have any questions, or need help finding a specialist, we at Surgical Specialist of Long Island, PC are here to help. Visit our website for more information.