Fighting Colon Cancer: Early Detection the Key

Though the process of colonoscopy is uncomfortable and the thought daunting, it is the only sure shot method to combat the deadly disease.

Dr D. Kim Turgeon, M.D., clinical associate professor of internal medicine, division of gastroenterology, Michigan Medical School, stated that “It’s important to be screened routinely for colondefine cancerdefine, and there are a variety of tests available to help do that. If we reached full compliance with colon cancer screening, we could prevent more than 90 percent of colon cancers.”

The symptoms of colondefine cancerdefine do not give any early signs, but through family history, testing and examination it can be successfully determined.

Colon cancer begins as polyps arising from the lining of the colon. Although most polyps are benign, they have the potential of developing into a malignant cancer. The process takes about five to 10 years, enough time to remove these growths before they turn fatal.

Since most colon cancers occur in people older than 50, the American Cancer Society recommends that people should undergo regular colonoscopy or stool test for the presence of blood. Also, people at higher risk (such as those who have a family history of colon cancer) should go in for an early screening.

There are four popular options available for colon cancer screening. The first is the fecal occult blood test, to detect hidden blood in the stool, sigmoidoscopy (which uses a short flexible instrument to examine the lower portion of the colon and rectumdefine), bariumdefine enemadefine (X-ray of the colon) and colonoscopy (an examination of the entire colon using a flexible instrument). Besides these is the virtual colonoscopy, which uses a CTdefine scan to look for abnormalities.

Among these tests, colonoscopy is the only test that diagnoses abnormalities and removes polyps, early cancer, and biopsies abnormal tissue, at the time of the procedure.

Colonoscopy involving sedation costs around $2,010 to $3,764, depending on the need for a biopsy. Sigmoidoscopy, in comparison, is much cheaper at $100 to $300. This procedure does not require sedation and can be performed in the doctor's chamber.

The prime reason for reluctance of screening among people is the expense and the body part involved. Researchers are trying to make colorectal screening a little easier through less-invasive procedures.

Colorectal cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in both men and women. A high intake of red meat, tobacco and lack of proper medical facilities is the major contributor to colon cancer.

Without regular screenings, many patients are not diagnosed until the polyps have developed into cancer. The treatment of colon cancer is surgery, chemotherapy, and radiationdefine therapy.