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Colon cancer prevention is all about screenings. And although many people shy away from getting their colonoscopy, it鈥檚 a crucial component of taking care of your health. Experts estimate that, each year, around die of colorectal cancer. In many cases, these deaths could have been prevented with appropriate screenings and interventions.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a reason we call colon cancer 鈥榯he silent killer,鈥欌�� says , medical oncologist at the Martin-O鈥橬eil Cancer Center at 网曝门事件 Health St. Helena. 鈥淐olon cancer starts as very small growth, but if a patient comes to the cancer center once it is much more developed, it can unfortunately be very serious.鈥�

An essential part of preventive healthcare

Colon cancer screenings are essential preventive healthcare screenings鈥攖hey are just as important as mammograms, prostate exams and annual check-ups. 鈥淭he gold-standard, highest resolution method for colon cancer screening is a colonoscopy,鈥� explains , gastroenterologist with 网曝门事件 Health St. Helena. 鈥淣ot only does a colonoscopy detect pre-cancerous polyps, but you can actually take action during the screening to remove and treat them immediately.鈥�

Some people opt for at-home colon cancer screenings, such as fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) or Cologuard庐 testing. While these tests may have lower rates of accuracy than a colonoscopy, they are another important early detection tool. 鈥淓ven though we know expert guidelines recommend colonoscopies, we know that people struggle to find time to schedule a primary care appointment, let alone reach out to a gastroenterologist,鈥� Dr. Atwal says. 鈥淭hese at-home options are useful for making colon cancer prevention a part of the conversation with your healthcare provider.鈥�

How can I prevent colon cancer?

One of the most impactful ways you can prevent colon cancer is to talk openly with your healthcare provider about your digestive health. 鈥淭hese aren鈥檛 always topics we鈥檙e the most comfortable with,鈥� Dr. Atwal says. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 really important to be open and proactive about any symptoms.鈥� Abdominal pain, diarrhea and rectal bleeding are all examples of changes that could indicate colorectal problems.

When it comes to lifestyle changes, Dr. Umutyan shares that the fundamentals remain the same: avoid smoking and excess drinking, exercise regularly and eat a nutritious diet. 鈥淔or colon health specifically, a plant-based, Mediterranean diet is best for your digestive health, while a diet high in red meat may increase your risks for colon cancer,鈥� Dr. Umutyan explains.

How bad is colonoscopy prep?

Dr. Atwal is aware that for many people, the most dreaded part of the colonoscopy is the bowel preparation. 鈥淪o many people come back to us and say, 鈥業 was nervous, but I鈥檓 really glad I got it done,鈥欌�� Dr. Atwal shares. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e surprised to find that it鈥檚 not as bad as they expected.

If your colonoscopy shows no abnormalities and you have no family history of colon cancer, you only need a colonoscopy every 10 years. If your colonoscopy does detect polyps, you will need more frequent screenings, such as every three or five years. How often you need follow-up screenings depends on the features of the polyps that were found.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an important conversation to have with your primary healthcare provider,鈥� Dr. Umutyan says. 鈥淧atients who come for colon cancer treatment at the Martin-O鈥橬eil Cancer Center never regret that key screening that let them start treatment as early as possible.鈥� Screening can often find colorectal cancer early, when it's small, hasn't spread, and might be easier to treat.

So don鈥檛 delay. Talk to your provider about colorectal cancer screening.