I visited this topic back in November but it is
important enough to review as March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Among cancers that affect both men and women,
it is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The
National Cancer Institute estimates more than 142,000 Americans will be
diagnosed with colon cancer this year and 50,000 people in this country will
die from it. The risks of getting colon
cancer increase with age; more than 90% of cases are in patients 50 or older.
Colorectal cancer, more commonly called colon
cancer, is an abnormal and uncontrolled growth arising in the last few feet of
one’s bowels. Almost all colon cancers
develop over multiple years. Initially, they are slow growing and easy to treat
“precancers” called adenomas or adenomatous polyps. If not treated, this abnormal growth will
invade the bowel and can erode completely through the colon while continuing to
enlarge.
Risk factors for colon cancer include a family
history of colon cancer in other relatives, diets low in fiber and whole grains
and high in fats, and heavy alcohol intake, any smoking, and lack of
exercise.
Everyone should be screened for colon cancer
beginning at age 50, although possibly sooner if you have a family history. The
most accurate way of screening is through colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a
procedure where a doctor uses a very small camera to look at the insides of the
colon. If any polyps are found during
colonoscopy, they are removed and sent to the laboratory for analysis. The colonoscopy should be repeated every ten
years until about age 80, although it may be recommended to repeat sooner.
In recent years, fewer patients nationwide are
getting appropriate colon cancer screening.
The best way to make sure you are
not one of the 142,000 Americans diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the next
year is to be sure to undergo proper colon cancer screening. If you are age 50 or older and have not had a
colonoscopy within the last ten years you should talk to your doctor about
scheduling one soon.
*** Dr. Matthew Bogard, Iowa doctor, is an emergency medicine doctor primarily at the Lucas County Health Center in Chariton, Iowa. Presently, he is Board Certified in Family Medicine by the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
References:
Blog: https://matthewbogardmd.blogspot.com/
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewbogard/
https://attorneygazette.com/matthew-bogard%2C-md#7244cab0-d3fa-44b9-8632-6f83b0524da4
News: https://hype.news/dr-matthew-bogard/
News: https://attorneygazette.com/matthew-bogard%2C-md#7244cab0-d3fa-44b9-8632-6f83b0524da4
