Colonoscopy

Getting A Colonoscopy Is Important For Colorectal Health

There are up to 200 different types of cancers, and according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), colon cancer is the third highest cause of cancer-related deaths. The ACS expects to see an estimated 97,220 new cases of this type of cancer in 2018. Men are slightly more at risk of developing cancer in the colon than women, but not by much.

Thanks to improve screening, diagnosis, and treatment methods, the death rate due to cancer in the colon has been dropping for many years. In fact, the survival rate is 92 percent when this cancer is detected early.

What Is Colon Cancer?

The colon, which is also called the large intestine or large bowel, is a five-foot-long intestine that is three inches in diameter. The colon removes water and salt from waste to create a stool and then pushes the stool into the rectum. Nerves in the rectum give us the feeling for the need to have a bowel movement. Small clusters of cells called polyps can develop inside the colon. In most cases, these cluster of cells generally do not cause any problems or symptoms, but they can become cancerous over time.

Therefore regular endoscopy procedures for cancer in the colon are recommended by doctors for individuals who are 45 years of age or older (you can also have yearly stool blood tests or DNA tests every three years to monitor for colon cancer).

How To Detect Colon Cancer Symptoms

People usually do not experience any early symptoms of colon cancer during the early stage of this disease. Therefore, regular endoscopy procedures for cancer in the colon are recommended by doctors for individuals who are 45 years of age or older. This is when individuals are most likely to develop this disease. People can experience different symptoms based on the stage of this cancer, the size of cancer, and where the cancer is in the colon. Some of the colon cancer signs that may appear as the cancer advances to different stages include:

Blood in the stool
Sudden and unexplained fatigue, weakness, and weight loss
Constant abdominal pain, cramps, and gas
Diarrhea or constipation that lasts more than four weeks
Painful bowel movements and a feeling of not emptying completely
Constant urge to defecate and a change in stool consistency

These symptoms resemble the symptoms of other illnesses and diseases. That is why it is important to have a screening to see if these symptoms are related to cancer or some other condition.

What Causes Colon Cancer Symptoms?

A colorectal polyp is a collection of cells that can appear in the colon and in the adjacent rectum. Cancer in this area is often referred to as colorectal cancer because these clusters of cells can develop in the colon and rectum simultaneously. Benign cell clusters can turn cancerous, and there are several risks factors that increase the chances of benign colorectal polyps turning cancerous. These include:

Having a family history of colorectal cancer
Being over 45 years of age
Being Black or African-American
Having a personal history of chronic inflammatory intestinal conditions like ulcerative colitis
Being obese or having diabetes
Smoking or heavy alcohol usage
Having radiation therapy for other types of cancer in the abdominal area

Some researchers believe having a high-fat low-fiber diet or having a diet that is heavy in red meat consumption can lead to developing colorectal cancer. The results of this research are mixed, so there is no definitive correlation between people who eat these types of diets and higher rates of colorectal cancer.

How Quickly Does Colon Cancer Symptoms Progress?

All cancers go through five stages of progression, which are:

Stage 0 – cancer has stayed in place and has not spread to other tissue
Stage 1 – cancer has not grown too deep into the tissue and has not spread to other parts of the body
Stage 2 – cancer has grown to the outer layers of the colon
Stage 3 – cancer has grown through the colon and reached nearby lymph nodes
Stage 4 – cancer has reached tissues in other parts of the body

There are numerous factors that determine how long it takes to go from one stage to the next, so there is no standard timeline.

If you live in the Kitsap Peninsula area and are 45 years of age or older; or have a family history of colorectal cancer, schedule your initial consultation with Kitsap General Surgery today. We will answer all your questions and concerns about having a colonoscopy and provide instructions on the colonoscopy prep process.

Call us today so we can help you live a better tomorrow!
360.613.1335

You can click here for colonoscopy preparation instructions.