Colorectal cancer screening is important to your health. There is a recommendation that people over the age of 50, particularly those with a family history of colon disease, get tested; however, some people just don’t bother, while others seem to get tested too often. It is important to know when and why to test.
Colorectal cancer is becoming an increasing threat of cancer death, but if detected early, the survival rate increases to about 90%, so screening is very important as a diagnostic tool.
Colonoscopies are invasive procedures although the risks are small. There may be bleeding, intestinal perforations, or other complications, especially if you are older, however, the advantage is that during a colonoscopy, the doctor can take a biopsy (a piece of tissue to examine in the laboratory), remove precancerous polyps if they are there before. they grow and spread.
Therefore, a colonoscopy is a procedure that diagnoses problems in the colon, which is the large intestine, or large intestine. A finger-thick tube is used and this tube is flexible. Through this tube, the doctor can examine the lining of the intestine much better than with an X-ray.
Polyps are small growths on the lining of the intestine. They don’t have to be cancerous. Their removal is called a polypectomy and is done by inserting a wire through the instrument and cutting the polyp at the base with a small, painless electrical current. If these are removed early enough, they do not become cancerous, so this procedure is one way to protect against colon cancer. Usually after a couple of days, patients can begin to follow a normal routine.
Some doctors recommend repeat colonoscopies every five years in patients with previous exposure to cancer, while others feel that the test is necessary more often. Knowing when to perform the test becomes a difficult decision that must be made by a specialist.
Testing should be done if a patient has problems such as stomach pain or blood in the stool or if there is a family history of colorectal cancer or if the person has personally experienced precancerous growths. If patients are younger, then this invasive procedure can be done more easily and frequently and it is a safety issue if a close family member has had cancer.
Other than this, it is often better for older people not to put themselves through the stress of having a colonoscopy. In the USA, the tests are carried out until the age of 85 only because from that age there is a risk that older people are at greater risk due to the complications that can occur from the screens themselves. What is surprising, however, is that the average age for diagnosis of colon cancer is usually around 70 years.
However, the question of how often and when to test depends on the doctor and how he chooses to practice. A colonoscopy is often done because the doctor in question has difficulty performing visual examinations of the colon or is concerned that polyps may be missed, making it a safety decision for the patient. Patients should make sure that the procedure is necessary and that the doctor in question is not simply performing it as routine practice.
If you have problems with your digestion and unexplained weight loss, feel like your bowel is not emptying completely, have diarrhea or constipation, and/or blood in your stool, then you should see your doctor and follow his or her instructions regarding tests. Must perform. need. While we can sit here and debate whether or not these tests are necessary, even if you follow a policy of herbs and natural therapies, it is imperative that you know for sure what is going on with your health and what your doctors are testing for intestinal problems. with the kit and colonoscopies can often help you make decisions that will determine future illnesses.