Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is observed in March to highlight the importance of screening for colorectal cancer, as well as to promote healthy lifestyle habits that can decrease a person’s risk of developing cancer of the colon or rectum.
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is observed in March to highlight the importance of screening for colorectal cancer, as well as to promote healthy lifestyle habits that can decrease a person’s risk of developing cancer of the colon or rectum.
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death for men, and fourth for women in the United States. But what’s even more alarming to those of us in the Sooner State, is the incidence of colorectal cancer is higher in Oklahoma than the national rate. Couple that with the fact that approximately half of us are not up to date on our colorectal cancer screenings, and you start to understand the problem. An unfortunate trend in recent years has been more younger patients presenting with colorectal cancer.
The good news is that colorectal cancer is detectable, preventable and very much a curable cancer. When detected early, the five-year survival rate is about 90 percent. But you can’t treat what you don’t know you have. That’s why it’s so important to be properly screened.
“Colorectal cancer is preventable,” says Dom Burneikis, M.D., a colorectal surgeon with INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center. “Recently we’ve seen many significant advancements in treatment driven by better understanding of genetics and behavior of this disease. However, the truth is that nothing is as impactful as prevention and early detection. The earlier a problem is detected, the more options we have to deal with it. Do not wait for symptoms and get screened as soon as you can. It may just save your life.”
Colorectal cancer is sometimes referred to as a silent killer, meaning it doesn’t always show symptoms, especially in the early stages of disease, which emphasizes the importance of screenings.
Colonoscopy is the most common test used for colorectal cancer screening. The exam is performed with an anesthesiologist present to provide sedation and analgesia in a safe environment. During the procedure, a long, flexible tube is inserted into the rectum and passed through the length of the colon (large intestine). A tiny video camera at the tip of the tube provides a high-definition view of the inside surface of the colon for your doctor.
If your doctor finds a polyp, an abnormal growth that can develop into colon cancer, they can remove it during colonoscopy and prevent cancer from developing in the first place. In that way, colonoscopy is a unique procedure that can provide not only cancer screening, but cancer prevention as well.
Medical guidelines now suggest screenings begin at 45 years of age, younger than the previous recommendation at age 50. If you have a family history of the disease, then you should start screening at age 40 or 10 years prior to the age your family member was diagnosed, whichever comes first.
To schedule a colonoscopy today, talk to your primary care provider or visit integrishealth.org/landing/colorectal-cancer.
