Why You Need to Have Colon Cancer Screenings After 50 Years Old
While it does not sound like the most pleasant of experiences, a colonoscopy is actually a relatively quick and painless procedure that will leave you with very little pain and discomfort. During the procedure, your doctor will insert a very thin rubber tube that has both a light and camera on the end of it. From there he will slowly move the tube up into the large intestine, shining the light on the intestinal walls searching for any polyps or abnormalities.
During the entire procedure, you won't even be awake, anesthesia is given. In reality, the entire event takes only an hour or so from start to finish. However, it is also a procedure that is vitally important for those over 50 years old. And, if you have a history of this type of cancer in your family, it is recommended by medical professionals that you have your first colon cancer screenings around the age of 40.
Like other types of cancer screenings, a colonoscopy allows your doctor to inspect your colon and rectum to observe and check for any potential issues. Unbeknownst to you, polyps which could indicate cancerous cells, could be growing in your intestine with out you experience any direct symptoms. With a proper colon cancer screening, your doctor will be able to remove and test these polyps to determine if they pose a danger to turn into cancer, or are simply harmless growths.
It is also really important to get colon screenings if you are experiencing any pain or discomfort in your intestinal tract. Even though the procedure is generally used for cancer screening, it can also be used to detect and fix a variety of other issues such as bleeding intestinal walls.
Once you turn 50 it is quite important to speak with your doctor about performing colon cancer screening exams. For the vast majority of people, they are going to be simply routine exams that you will need to have performed every five to ten years in order to check on your health.
According to medical experts from the American Cancer Society, colon cancer is one type of cancer in which early detection almost always leads to no cancer at all. The American Cancer Society cites that approximately 65% of the deaths from colorectal cancers could have been prevented had those who died had made early colon cancer screening a part of their routine medical examination schedule.
The great news is that every year, increasing amounts of people are getting more screenings than ever. This has directly translated into colon cancer prevention and early detection, which in turn, has led to less people suffering and dying from colon cancer than in the past.