Five Reasons You Should Schedule Your Colonoscopy Today

One in two Americans who should have a colonoscopy don’t. Why? They’re scared about pain during the procedure, potential findings after and discomfort from the colon prep the night before; and they’re embarrassed about the intimate nature of the screening itself. 

But before you put colonoscopy off for these or other reasons, you should know: colonoscopy saves lives. If you’re 45 or older and haven’t had a colonoscopy yet, here are five important reasons why you should. 

• Prevention. A colonoscopy is a key preventive tool that can help detect colorectal cancer early when it’s most treatable and beatable.
• Polyp Detection and Removal. While a colonoscopy screening is diagnostic in nature, it also allows the doctor to remove polyps, which are precursors to cancer. By removing polyps during a colonoscopy, you can help prevent cancer from developing.
• Age and Family History Considerations. If you’re over 45 or have a family history of colorectal cancer, scheduling a colonoscopy is essential for early detection. The risk of colorectal cancer increases with age and family history.
• Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Issues. If you’re experiencing symptoms such as abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, or rectal bleeding, a colonoscopy can also diagnose conditions like inflammatory bowel disease or other gastrointestinal disorders – in addition to cancer.
• Peace of Mind. Knowing the state of your colon health can provide reassurance. Regular screenings help you stay informed about your health and can help alleviate concerns about potential issues. 

“Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States; it’s the second in cancer-related deaths,” explains Dr. Rameez Alasadi, interventional gastroenterologist with Premier Suburban Medical Group. “In the screening world, we use an adenoma detection rate as a quality measure. Adenomas are one of the type of polyps we see in the colon. The higher the adenoma detection rate, the lower the risk of developing cancer.”   

“We’re seeing more and more cases of younger people diagnosed with colon cancer,” he added. “And we believe this is most likely related to unhealthy lifestyle. We’re seeing obesity at childhood. It’s all related to exposure to highly processed foods. Other risk factors like cigarette smoking, red meat and excessive alcohol consumption – those are modifiable risk factors, but then we have unmodifiable risk factors like genetic predisposition. Colon cancer is a disease that we can screen for, and we have different tools to screen for it, but the gold standard is a colonoscopy.” 

To schedule a colonoscopy, talk to your primary care provider today. If you don’t have a provider, visit silvercross.org/find-a-doctor/