Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women in the United States. This prevalence has prompted experts to update their screening guidelines: the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), in particular, recommends that adults with average risk for colorectal cancer get routine screening starting at age 45. However, does…
colon cancer screening
Choosing the Colon Cancer Screening That Is Right for You: Colonoscopy vs Sigmoidoscopy
There are a number of screening tests available for colon cancer, but the two top choices and the most commonly used are colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy. If you’re due for your first colon cancer screening soon, here is what you need to know about each of the two procedures, particularly what they involve, to help you…
When should you get a colon cancer screening?
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. In spite of that, colon cancer-related deaths are dropping, which is partly attributed to routine colon cancer screenings. What is A Colon Cancer Screening? A health screening is defined…
How Accurate Is a Colonoscopy to Screen for Colon Cancer?
A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure that involves inserting a colonoscope—a long, thin, and flexible tube with a miniature camera on its tip—into your rectum to obtain a live image of the lining of your colon. The main purpose of the procedure is to detect polyps and other abnormalities in the large intestine (colon) and…
Colon Cancer Screening: Is It Right for You?
Colon cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States. It starts when healthy cells in the large intestine (colon) develop harmful changes in their DNA. Over time, these changes can damage the DNA, rendering the cells unable to properly grow and divide. Damage to their DNA essentially causes the cells…
Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Colorectal Cancer
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, affecting men and women equally. In 2017, the agency reported 141,425 cases of colorectal cancer. Such alarming prevalence can be ascribed to the mysterious, elusive nature of the disease: researchers are yet…
Is a Colonoscopy Painful?
A colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that enables doctors to view the inside of the large intestine. This procedure is carried out for a number of reasons but is most frequently used as a screening tool for cancer, polyps, and disease inside the colon. A conventional colonoscopy uses a scope, which is a long thin semi-flexible tube…
What to Know About At-Home Colon Cancer Screenings
It’s easier than ever to get a colon cancer screening. You can even do it from your own home. You receive the test, collect the sample, and send in your results. You can benefit from this because the test is noninvasive and can be done in the comfort and privacy of your home. However, before…
H. Pylori and Its Effect on Your Digestive Health
Helicobacter pylori, commonly referred to as H. pylori, is a bacterium that infects the stomach and the small intestines. It is very common – more than 50% of the worldwide population is believed to have it – but most people are unaware that they have it. You might have an H. pylori infection and not…
How Common Is Colon Cancer?
Our colon is an integral part of our digestive system. The colon is also called the “bowel” or the “large intestine,” and sometimes the entire intestine is referred to as the colon. The colon is consistently at work whenever we eat and drink. Food is processed in the stomach and then moves into the small…