Colonoscopies Can Save Your Life

By Gastro Health

Gastro Health

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Colonoscopies Can Save Your Life

Most people go through life without much thought of colon health. Though there may be jokes and puns aplenty, the state of your colon is not something to take lightly. Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States among men and women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  For men, who die around an average of six years earlier than women, the risk is greater. The only way to change this statistic is to make your health a priority, take preventative measures and schedule your colon cancer screening colonoscopy.

  A colonoscopy is a lifesaving procedure and a necessity for nearly everyone at some point in life. Yet people aren’t lining the halls of the hospital, eagerly waiting their turn. Early detection and the removal of polyps before they become malignant prevents the development of cancer and saves lives.

 4 Things You Should Know About Colon Cancer:  

 Colon Cancer is Common

  Colon cancer is so common that experts recommend anyone over age 50 get tested, even if they don’t have symptoms. During the procedure, your doctor will look for growths that look like cancer or could become cancer. If caught early, colon cancer’s five-year survival rate is 90 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Colon Cancer Runs in Families

  If you have a family history of colon cancer, your chance of being diagnosed doubles. If a first-degree relative was diagnosed with colon cancer before age 65, a colonoscopy is necessary once you are 10 years younger than they were upon being diagnosed.

Colon Cancer Can Occur Randomly

  It is important to pay attention to troubling symptoms, regardless of family history or a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease. Symptoms that warrant a visit include abdominal pain, changes in bowel movement, weight loss, blood in your stool, or black and tarry stools.

 Colonoscopies are Simple and Noninvasive

  No matter your reason for needing a colonoscopy, it’s a simple procedure, not surgery. The preparation — skipping solid food for one day and taking a bowel prep reduces cancer risk.

  Additionally, there aren’t many preventable cancers, as most occur without warning. Colon cancer is one of the few that can be prevented so, while a colonoscopy may not sound fun, it’s much easier and more comfortable than dealing with cancer.