Turning 50 is an exciting time. You're nearing retirement age, you likely have a few adorable grandchildren, and you finally get to go have your first colonoscopy! Lucky you, you've turned the magical age that insurance company and your primary care doctor will start bugging you about getting in to check for cancer. Before you start running for the hills screaming, let's review a few facts about colon cancer.
Colorectal Cancer
According to the FightColorectalCancer.org, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. That is a very scary thought! FightColorectalCancer.org also shows that there will be 140,250 new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed just in 2019. That means 1 in 20 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime.
When left untreated, colon cancer spreads through the lymph nodes or blood stream to other areas of the body. CancerCenter.com explains that colon cancer most commonly is spread to the liver. It can also spread to the lungs, brain, bones, and spinal cord. Once cancer spreads, or metastasizes, it is very difficult and almost impossible to treat.
Preventing Colorectal Cancer
Thankfully, colorectal cancer is very preventable! FightColorectalCancer.org states that 60% of deaths from colorectal cancer can be prevented with proper screening. Yes, it really is that simple. Colon cancer starts as a polyp. The CDC explains that a polyp is an abnormal growth in the colon that are slow growing but can grow into cancer. If you have a colonoscopy and find and remove these polyps, you are preventing cancer.
Colonoscopy
Currently, the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening is with a colonoscopy, and it's not as scary as you think. The process for a colonoscopy is actually quite simple. The night before your procedure you will take a large dose of laxative to clean out or "prep" your colon. Removing all stool from the colon is important so the doctor can see clearly the walls of the colon to see and remove polyps. The day of your procedure you will be given sedation if you choose, so you can sleep right through. It takes about 20 minutes total for the doctor to look through the whole large intestine and remove any polyps or screen for any abnormalities. Most people say the nap during the procedure is the best part, but if you're brave then you can stay awake and watch the scope on a tv screen in the room.
Signs and Symptoms
Currently the age to start screening is 50, but people are getting diagnosed younger and younger, so it is important to know the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer in case you need to be screened earlier. Here are the most important things to know from the CDC:
Colorectal Cancer
According to the FightColorectalCancer.org, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. That is a very scary thought! FightColorectalCancer.org also shows that there will be 140,250 new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed just in 2019. That means 1 in 20 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime.
When left untreated, colon cancer spreads through the lymph nodes or blood stream to other areas of the body. CancerCenter.com explains that colon cancer most commonly is spread to the liver. It can also spread to the lungs, brain, bones, and spinal cord. Once cancer spreads, or metastasizes, it is very difficult and almost impossible to treat.
Preventing Colorectal Cancer
Thankfully, colorectal cancer is very preventable! FightColorectalCancer.org states that 60% of deaths from colorectal cancer can be prevented with proper screening. Yes, it really is that simple. Colon cancer starts as a polyp. The CDC explains that a polyp is an abnormal growth in the colon that are slow growing but can grow into cancer. If you have a colonoscopy and find and remove these polyps, you are preventing cancer.
Colonoscopy
Currently, the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening is with a colonoscopy, and it's not as scary as you think. The process for a colonoscopy is actually quite simple. The night before your procedure you will take a large dose of laxative to clean out or "prep" your colon. Removing all stool from the colon is important so the doctor can see clearly the walls of the colon to see and remove polyps. The day of your procedure you will be given sedation if you choose, so you can sleep right through. It takes about 20 minutes total for the doctor to look through the whole large intestine and remove any polyps or screen for any abnormalities. Most people say the nap during the procedure is the best part, but if you're brave then you can stay awake and watch the scope on a tv screen in the room.
Signs and Symptoms
Currently the age to start screening is 50, but people are getting diagnosed younger and younger, so it is important to know the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer in case you need to be screened earlier. Here are the most important things to know from the CDC:
- If you have a parent or sibling who was diagnosed with polyps or colorectal cancer your risk increases exponentially and you will need to be screened sooner. Talk to your doctor about this.
- If you have rectal bleeding, typically bright red blood that comes and goes for a long period of time, this is a sign of cancer, and you should be screened.
- Stool changes. If you have long pencil thin stools, or diarrhea, constipation, or a feeling that you still need to go after you just went, these are signs of colon cancer.
- Unexplained weight loss is a sign of colon cancer.
- Stomach aches or pains.
If you experience any of these symptoms, go to your doctor right away and get screened! Having peace of mind and preventing cancer will give you a healthier and longer life. And more time to spend with your adorable grandkids!
Jimmy Kimmel Gets a Colonoscopy
Resources
- https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/
- https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/
- https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/colorectal-cancer
*Disclaimer - this blog was created for a college class
I loved your introduction. It was very well written and grabbed my attention. This blog post did a great job of creating urgency and calling to action. Your video was hilarious! It did a good job of making the colonoscopy seem really easy and painless. Overall, your post was great! It looked nice and was fun to read.
ReplyDeleteI like this post! The video adds some good humor which lightens the mood. Definitely necessary. I also like that you've explained signs and symptoms to watch for in regards to this cancer. It's super important! You've made it easy to understand, too.
ReplyDelete