Spring Screening – Are You Due for a Colonoscopy?

The body is an amazing, complicated, and sometimes fragile machine. And like any machine, it operates best when given the right fuel, used properly, and provided regular maintenance.

National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month each March reminds us of the importance of proper care of our bodies to prevent potentially catastrophic breakdowns. It raises awareness about colorectal cancer, promotes early detection and screening, and encourages individuals to take steps to reduce their risk.

Approximately one in 25 men and women in the United States will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime. That amounts to about 150,000 new diagnoses per year. About 50,000 die annually from the disease.

Prevention begins with the tried-and-true tenets of good health:

• Eat healthier – eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and less red meats and processed foods.
• Exercise regularly – be physically active and maintain a healthy weight.
• Quit smoking – or better yet, never start.
• Drink less alcohol – or none at all.

Because colorectal cancer symptoms are mostly invisible to us in the early stages, prevention also entails regular screenings by professionals using any of several methods, most notably a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a medical procedure that examines the large intestine (colon) using a thin, flexible tube equipped with a small camera called a colonoscope. Special instruments can be passed through the colonoscope to biopsy (sample) or remove any suspicious-looking areas such as polyps, if needed.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends colonoscopy for adults at average risk of colorectal cancer starting at age 45 and continuing every 10 years thereafter.

There are other types of screening for colorectal cancer. These include various means of examining stool, including a stool occult blood test, which like other stool tests, is non-invasive, cheap, and convenient; a Fecal Immunochemical Test or FIT test, also cheap and can be done more frequently than say, a colonoscopy; and Cologuard, a stool DNA test that has a higher sensitivity than a FIT test. While these tests don’t require sedation, bowel prep, and the typical cost of a colonoscopy, a positive result will likely require the need for a follow-up colonoscopy.

Screenings like these are essential because they can detect colorectal cancer early, when it is most treatable.

Bolivar Medical Center is your local resource for colorectal health and well-being. We can perform the screening that’s right for you and advise on lifestyle measures you can take to best prevent future kinks in your machinery.

To take a colon health assessment, visit bolivarmedical.com/digestive-health. If you already know you are due for a colonoscopy, schedule one by calling 662-846-2227.

Every six months or so, you get your car’s oil changed. You might have your lawnmower serviced annually, your HVAC every five years, and your roof every 10 years. After 45+ years of use, it’s surely time to get your colon checked.