Why Colon Cancer Screening is Important

Many people don't think about getting a colon cancer screening until they begin to have problems. Unfortunately, in some cases this may be too late. So why is colon cancer screening so important? The answer is simple. This is a serious medical condition that can be fatal if not treated in time. However, early detection can make a difference.

These are a number of tests designed to find symptoms of both cancer and polyps, which may be precursors of cancer. These tests include 

• a flexible sigmoidoscopy. This should be done every  should be done every 5 years
• a colonoscopy, which should be done every 10 years
• double contrast barium enema every 5 years
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years.

Having the screening done cannot guarantee that you will never get colon cancer (also commonly called colorectal cancer) but it can greatly lower your risk. Still, there are many reasons why people continue to put it off. Stool samples must be taken for the fecal occult blood test, which can be uncomfortable.

The coloscopy is the most reliable to detect signs of colon cancer. But many people put off having this procedure done because they're afraid it will be both unpleasant and painful. To learn more, click on colonoscopy.

Even preparing for the colonoscopy can be unsettling. Usually you must take a strong laxative prior to the examination. Your colon to be clean so the doctor can spot potential signs of trouble like polyps.

Today, virtual colonoscopy is making the news but it's still in the experimental stage. However, this new test is less invasive because it's done by using a CT scanner from the outside of the body. Your colon still needs to be clean and if this virtual colonoscopy does show any signs of polyps in the colon, you will need to have the original test done.

There are steps you can take to reduce your risk of colon cancer such as regular exercise, controlling your weight, cutting back on the consumption of red and processed meats and avoiding smoking. However, nothing takes the place of regular screenings. The first one is recommended when you reach the age fifty. It's suggested you have one every ten years after that, providing you are a healthy adult and no problems were found. If you do have other problems you may need to have the screenings more regularly.

Colon cancer can be caused by heredity but this is very rare and usually makes up about five percent of the cases. About twenty-five percent of the cases fall into what is called the gray area. This is because they have family members that have colon cancer but there is no pattern associated with who gets it and who doesn't. This suggests that others causes may be factors.

That leaves about seventy percent of cases that can't be explained by factors associated with heredity. These are known as "sporadic" cases. It appears that the majority of cases are caused by a person's lifestyle more than anything else. That's why colon cancer screening is so important. There's no way to predict who will get it and who won't.

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and the third most common type of cancer. Don't become part of the statistics. Take the time to have the colon cancer screening test when you reach age fifty or when your doctor recommends you do so.  

Click on American Cancer Society's Complete Guide to Colorectal Cancer to go to Amazon.com's product information page for this book.

It is also available from Barnes and Noble by clicking here or Borders by clicking here.