Colorectal Cancer: Screening is the Key to Early Detection

3/21/2023

By: DeTar Medical Group - Gastroenterology

If you are approaching the age of 50, you might shudder at the mere thought of being prompted by your doctor to schedule a colonoscopy screening. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), screening every 10 years, starting at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer.

The American Cancer Society reports that among all cancers, excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. When men and women are statistically combined, colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The good news is that with early detection – through a colonoscopy – the survival rate increases significantly.

You might be asking what a colonoscopy is, how it’s performed, and how you can better prepare yourself to undergo one. Colonoscopies are typically performed by a gastroenterologist and this procedure allows for them to see completely inside the colon and rectum. Used as either a screening test or a diagnostic tool, a colonoscopy can help your doctor investigate early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum, as well as help diagnose the causes of unexplained changes in bowel habits such as abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and weight loss. When performed routinely, a colonoscopy can potentially help to save your life. While you’re sedated, the doctor will insert a thin, long, flexible, lighted tube (a colonscope) into your rectum and slowly guide it into your colon. The scope then transmits an image of the inside of the colon onto a screen so the doctor can carefully examine the lining of the colon.

If anything abnormal is observed, such as a polyp (growth), it will then be painlessly removed at that time and later tested in a laboratory for signs of cancer. Since most colorectal cancer begins as a polyp, removing polyps early is a highly effective prevention method. Your doctor can also take samples from abnormal–looking tissues (a biopsy) so that suspicious areas can be examined. Overall, a colonoscopy procedure takes anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes.

Dr. Timothy L. Huggins, gastroenterologist with DeTar Medical Group suggests, “When it comes to having increased risk of bowel cancer due to family history, a colonoscopy is one of the most important procedures to undergo. Your health should never be put on the backburner, and I’m here to help provide you with peace of mind regarding lowering your risk for colorectal cancer.”

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the most common risk factors that can increase your chances for developing colorectal cancer include:

• Being age 50 or older
• Being African-American
• Having certain digestive diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or other inflammatory bowel disease
• Having a family or personal history of polyps or colorectal cancer
• Eating a high-fat diet
• Having type 2 (usually non-insulin dependent) diabetes
• In addition, if you are physically inactive, obese, or a smoker, you have a greater chance of developing colorectal cancer. Increasing your activity level may help reduce your risk.

The American Cancer Society recommends that screening for colon cancer should begin at age 45 for both men and women who are of average risk for developing colorectal cancer. Your doctor can advise you about the right time to begin, as well as testing frequency, but industry guidelines suggest that a repeat screening be conducted every 10 years for adults with normal risk. People at higher risk of developing colorectal cancer may need to be tested earlier than age 45 and more frequently, as determined by your doctor.

Depending on your age, a colonoscopy screening may be a covered “wellness” test under your insurance plan, and most plans cover a colonoscopy completely as a follow-up test or diagnostic tool. Check with your insurance provider and your doctor’s office for help scheduling a screening exam. If you have more questions about your procedure, contact your doctor or call (361) 412-6415 to set up your screening appointment.

Gastroenterologist Timothy Huggins, M.D., specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect the GI tract. This includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon) and biliary system, including the liver, pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts. Dr. Huggins has more than 25 years of medical experience in treating patients. He treats a variety of diseases, including hepatitis, gastric reflux, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Huggins is accepting new patients; physician and self-referral accepted.

Services currently offered:

• Biliary endoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Endoscopy
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Liver disease treatment
• Percutaneous feeding tube placement
• Polypectomy

Back