The bad news: If you are 50 or older, you are at risk for developing colorectal cancer.

The good news: Colon cancer and rectal cancer can be prevented, and proper screening can save lives, according to Rhonda Dolen-Hooker, a nurse practitioner in SIU’s division of gastroenterology.

Approximately 140,000 individuals are diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year. Colonoscopies can detect colorectal cancer early, when it is most curable and easier to treat. Nine out of 10 individuals who had their colon cancer detected in the early stages of the disease were still alive five years later, with many of them living a normal life span.

In the early stages of colorectal cancer, there usually aren’t any symptoms. By the time symptoms are noticed, the cancer has often grown and spread to a stage that is very hard to treat. A colonoscopy can prevent this from happening.

What exactly happens during a colonoscopy?

During a colonoscopy, the entire length of the colon and rectum can directly be examined and any suspicious lesions or polyps (abnormal growths) removed before they become cancerous.

How is a colonoscopy performed?

Sedation is administered to the individual undergoing the colonoscopy to reduce discomfort during the procedure.  A physician who has special training in performing a colonoscopy uses a colonoscope, a thin, hollow, flexible tube about the size of a finger with a light and video camera on the end, to view the entire length of the colon. If any unusual looking tissue or polyps are seen, the physician can perform a biopsy or completely remove the polyp at the time of the examination. The entire procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.  All tissue, including polyps, is examined under a microscope by a trained physician.

When should you get screened?

Both men and women should begin screening for colorectal cancer after they turn 50. Screening should continue regularly until the age of 75, with frequency of screening determined by a health-care provider and based on the individual’s risk of developing the disease.  After the age of 75, screening is determined on an individual basis.

Who is at higher risk for developing colorectal cancer?

• Those individuals with inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
• A person with a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps.
• Individuals with a genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome).

Is getting a colonoscopy worth the hassle?

ABSOLUTELY!  A colonoscopy is a relatively simple and safe procedure with low risk factors that CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE.

Resources:  Cancer.net, American Cancer Society, Cancer.org and CDC.gov.
Written by Rhonda Dolen-Hooker, MSN, FNP-BC, SIU HealthCare, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology.