Why a Colon Cancer Screening Is So Important

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and its prevalence is on the rise in people younger than 50. In order to prevent the life-threatening complications of colon cancer, you need to schedule regular screenings to diagnose the condition early.

At Gastro Center of Maryland, we specialize in colon cancer screenings for adults in the DMV and surrounding areas.

Our board-certified gastroenterologists also treat this type of cancer using the latest nonsurgical and surgical therapies.

An overview of colon cancer

Colon cancer occurs when cells divide and grow abnormally in the lining of your colon (large intestine).  The cells clump together and form polyps, which may be benign (noncancerous) at first, but can turn cancerous over time.

The root cause of colon cancer isn’t well understood, but there are known risk factors for the disease, including:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Being older than 50
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Family history of colon cancer
• Personal history of colon polyps

Polyps can grow without causing symptoms. As the cancer progresses, you may have persistent gastrointestinal symptoms like cramping and gas, constipation or diarrhea, and rectal bleeding.

Advanced colon cancer is more difficult to treat than cancer diagnosed in the earliest stages. For this reason, it’s essential you schedule routine colon cancer screenings. Our team can determine when to get screenings based on your age and other risk factors.

What to expect during a colon cancer screening

Colon cancer screenings involve different diagnostic tests to check for abnormal growths on the lining of your large intestine. A colonoscopy is the one of the most typical screening tools our team uses to identify precancerous and cancerous tissue in the earliest stages.

During a colonoscopy, your physician inserts a thin, tubelike instrument (colonoscope) into your rectum and guides it up through your lower digestive tract. The lighted scope has a camera attached that sends real-time images of your colon to an external monitor.

The procedure allows your provider to view the tissues inside your colon. If they identify suspicious tissue, your specialist can remove a sample with the scope for further testing under a microscope.

Other tests that may be included in your routine screening include blood testing, stool analysis, and sigmoidoscopy. Sigmoidoscopy is similar to a colonoscopy except it only evaluates the left side of your colon.

How early colon cancer screenings can save your life

Because you can have colon cancer without experiencing symptoms, a preventive screening is the only way to identify the disease before it progresses or spreads elsewhere in your body.

You schedule a preventive screening even if you feel well and your risk factors for colon cancer are low.  If your initial test is negative for polyps or suspicious tissue, you won’t need another screening for 10 years.

If your screening identifies cancer, we can start treatment right away. Care plans for colon cancer may involve surgery to remove cancerous growths followed by radiation or chemotherapy to destroy remaining cancer cells.

Our team also provides educational resources you can use to optimize your health and lower your risk for colon cancer and other gastrointestinal cancers.

Call the Gastro Center of Maryland office near you today to schedule a preventive colon cancer screening. You can also use the online feature to book an appointment.