Colonoscopy
Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (the lower part of the digestive system). Cancer of the colon is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and, if caught early, it’s also one of the most curable. Most cases begin silently, as a polyp that causes no symptoms and therefore is highly preventable with routine screening. Some people are at higher risk and should be screened early. Know the risk factors associated with colon cancer:
- Advancing age, i.e., over age 50
- A diet high in red meat
- A high-fat diet
- Obesity
- A low fiber diet
- Smoking
- A family (i.e. a sibling or parent) history of colorectal cancer or polyps
- A personal history of colon polyps
- Certain conditions that elevate your risk, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- Certain genetic disorders such as Lynch syndrome
- Diabetes - People with Type II diabetes have a 40 percent increased risk of colon cancer
- Ethnic background - African Americans have the highest number of colorectal cancer cases in the United States
The American Cancer Society strongly recommends all adults age 45 or older to begin routine colon cancer screenings. Colonoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to look at the inner lining of your large intestine (rectum and colon) to help find colon polyps, tumors and areas of inflammation or bleeding. Colonoscopy can also be used as a screening test to check for cancer or precancerous growths in the colon or rectum (polyps).
The colonoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a small video camera built in so that your doctor can visualize the large intestine (colon) in real time as well as take pictures. The colonoscope can be used to look at the whole colon and the lower part of the small intestine and is done under sedation/anesthesia. During a colonoscopy, the doctor may remove tissue and/or polyps for further examination and treat any problems that are discovered.