For many types of cancer, your risk of developing that cancer has to do with family history, your daily habits and just plain chance. When it comes to colon cancer, the power of prevention is a phone call away. Scheduling a colonoscopy is the best and most efficient way to prevent colon cancer, the third-leading cause of cancer death in the United States.
A colonoscopy is much more than just a colon cancer screening. Your gastroenterologist can help you prevent developing colon cancer by removing precancerous growths in your colon called colon polyps. Colon polyps begin as tiny clumps of cells in the intestinal lining whose genetic material has changed. These clumps continue to grow if they are not removed, and they develop into a polyp. Not all polyps become cancerous, but many polyps have the potential to become cancerous.
When your gastroenterologist performs your colonoscopy, he or she is inspecting your entire colon, from the cecum to the rectum, for colon polyps. If any polyps are discovered during the exam, they will be removed so they will never have the opportunity to become malignant. No other colon cancer screening has the ability to both screen for cancer and prevent cancer in the same procedure.
Other ways to prevent colon cancer have to do with your daily habits. Smoking, drinking alcohol, being overweight, and eating a high-fat and low-fiber diet significantly increase your risk for developing colon cancer, as well as having a sedentary lifestyle. Fortunately, these risk factors can be reversed by making positive changes in your nutrition and habits. Quitting smoking, limiting alcohol to special occasions, eating a nutritious diet and getting regular exercise will lower your risk for developing colon cancer, as well as other types of cancer. To top it all off, you’ll feel and look better, too.
Take a stand against colon cancer by scheduling your colonoscopy and evaluating your daily choices. If you are 50 years of age (or 45 years of age if you are African American) and are at average risk for developing colon cancer, talk to your primary care physician about getting a colonoscopy to prevent colon cancer. Family history plays a significant role in the development of colon cancer, so talk to your doctor if colon cancer runs in your family. Knowledge is the first step to prevention!