Endoscopy Services
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Colon cancer is preventable
Colon cancer is the most common cancer in men and women who don’t smoke. 36,000 non-smokers had colon cancer in 2005. There were 150,000 people in the U.S. newly diagnosed in 2005. 56,000 people will die from it. 5 people out of 100 will have colon cancer in their lifetime. Unfortunately, only about half of those people diagnosed today will survive. That is because their cancer is found too late in the course of their disease.
All colon cancer starts as a polyp, a small growth the size of a wart, hidden in the colon. Years may go by before this becomes a cancer. Large population studies have shown that people who have screening colonoscopy and polyp removal are unlikely to die from colon cancer. The American Cancer Society, therefore, recommends a screening procedure for every adult who is over 50 years old, even without symptoms. Screening the entire adult population is no small task, and in many places adequate facilities are not available. If every person over 50 had a screening colonoscopy we would save 30,000 lives. At Advanced Specialty Care, we are committed to do our part to help achieve this goal!
What is a colonoscopy?
This is an office procedure that takes about 20 minutes. Under sedation (mild anesthesia), a flexible tube is used to look through the entire colon. When polyps are encountered, they are removed. All patients need transportation and cannot work the day of the procedure. The average colon is four to five feet long and polyps can form in any portion.
As an alternative, a “Virtual colonoscopy” is an X-ray procedure of the colon. However, x-ray examination cannot remove polyps and iff polyps are found a colonoscopy will be needed. Virtual colonoscopy is not effective for diagnosing abnormalities of the mucus membrane. The preparation is the same as a colonoscopy, and no sedation is given for this procedure.
Average Risk
Average risk is the chance that a person with no symptoms will be found to have colon cancer in any given year. The lifetime risk is 5% for Americans. This risk is high enough for the American Cancer Society to recommend colon cancer screening to everybody at or over 50 years of age. If total colonoscopy is done and is normal, the test needs to be repeated every 10 years.
Increased Risk
Increased risk means a higher chance of finding colon cancer. People with increased risk are those with:
- Rectal bleeding
- Change in bowel habits or stool caliber
- Unintended weight loss and/or abdominal pains with bowel movements
- A positive fecal occult blood test
- A family history of colon cancer
- A family history of colon polyps
High Risk
People that have a high risk for colon cancer are those with:
- A personal history of colon cancer
- A personal history of colon polyps
- A personal history of ulcerative colitis of greater than 10 years duration
- Two or more first degree relatives with colon cancer and/or cancer of the uterus
- A first degree relative with colon cancer at an early age (before 60 years)
- A family history of familial adenomatous polyposis and other so-called polyposis syndromes.
People at high risk need much more frequent colon cancer screening than the general population.
Good healthcare demands teamwork. Teamwork between you, your primary care provider and Advanced Specialty Care. We will work closely with your physician to help you make the choice best suited for you.
Additional Resources
For more information regarding endoscopy and colonoscopy services, please visit the following websites.
The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
BravoTM pH Monitoring System
Given PillCamTM Capsule Endoscopy