February 2009
Page 1
Find and Prevent Colorectal Cancer
If thoughts of being screened for colorectal cancer make you a bit nervous, that's understandable. But screening is a powerful way to guard against this major cause of cancer deaths, and it can bring peace of mind too. Screening can find colorectal cancer early, when treatments are more successful. In many cases, screening can even prevent cancer from starting. That's because most colon and rectal cancers begin with abnormal growths called polyps. Doctors can often find and remove these polyps before they become cancerous. Most people should get regular screenings starting at age 50, according to the American Cancer Society, but people at increased risk may benefit from earlier and more frequent testing. Several options are available. Each test has advantages and disadvantages.
The screenings include:
- Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) looks for hidden blood in stool samples.
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy uses a lighted tube to check the lower colon.
- Double-contrast barium enema uses liquid and air to form an outline of the colon so X-rays can be taken.
- Colonoscopy uses a tube longer than the sigmoid scope to examine the entire colon. Screening can save lives. Talk to your doctor about the options as well as when and how often you should be tested.
SOURCE: Loraine County, OH Ostomy Assoc.: The Re-Route 0n-Line, Evansville, IN., February 2009, via Inside Out On-line February 2009
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