If there was a test that could find and effectively treat cancer in one appointment, would you take it? Across the country, 60 percent of people who should have a colonoscopy don’t follow through with their appointment. In Chattanooga, that number is 70 percent! It’s one reason why colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death, even though it can be prevented or treated 99 percent of the time with this simple screening.
Colonoscopies can save lives and preserve families in the long run. Learn more about the benefits and procedure with University Surgical Associates.“I think people avoid or put off having a colonoscopy for several reasons. One is fear. They’re concerned about the bowel prep or have seen someone have a difficult time with it. Others are afraid that it’s painful, uncomfortable, or done without sedation,” says Benjamin Kellogg, MD, general surgeon with University Surgical Associates who practices in Dayton, TN. “Still others fear one of the few rare potential complications that they’ve heard can happen.”
Thankfully, colonoscopies have improved in recent years. The dreaded bowel prep is now easier to complete, and patients are adequately sedated to the point where they feel no discomfort and don’t remember anything about it afterwards. It’s completely painless. During the procedure, a long, flexible tube lets the surgeon see inside the colon and rectum. Most colon cancers start as non-cancerous growths called polyps. If a polyp is discovered, it can be removed before it ever turns into cancer. Major surgery can usually be avoided as well.
“The benefits of early detection and treatment are dramatic – we know that colonoscopy works when people take advantage of it. We also know that a person’s risk of developing colorectal cancer advances the older you get, and it’s impacted by family history,” says Shauna Lorenzo-Rivero, MD, colorectal surgeon with University Surgical Associates. “In the US, about 10 percent of the population has a first degree relative (mother, father, sibling) who has had colorectal cancer. When multiple family members are affected, your risk goes up even further.”
Who should have a colonoscopy and when?