Admit it, you’ve been putting off that colonoscopy. Dragging your feet.
(We get it. You’re busy. You’re not sure whether insurance will cover it. You’ve heard the prep process isn’t much fun”.)
Well, this is a great time to shake off your malaise and schedule that procedure. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month and having that colonoscopy could help save your life.
“Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States,” says Abbie Hanka, nurse manager for Inpatient Oncology at St. Elizabeth Edgewood, and there are often no symptoms in the early stages, when it is most treatable.
A colonoscopy screening is the best way not only to detect colorectal cancer at an early stage, but to prevent it entirely. During the colonoscopy the physician inserts a scope through the rectum and into the colon to find and remove polyps before they turn into cancer.
“Colorectal cancer has a 90 percent survival rate if it’s caught at the local stage,” Hanka says, so regular screenings are essential. Although there are different types of screenings, “the colonoscopy is the gold standard,” she says, because the doctor can remove and biopsy suspicious polyps while conducting the screen.
The American Cancer Society recommends screenings every 10 years for men and women at average risk of developing colorectal cancer starting at age 50 until age 74. When scheduling your colonoscopy bear in mind that:
- Preparation involves cleaning out the colon the day before the procedure. Your doctor will give you specific directions to follow.
- You can only have clear liquids on the day before your appointment.
- You will be sedated during your colonoscopy, so plan to have someone drive you to and from your appointment.
Bottom line: “a colonoscopy can prevent you from having colon cancer,” Hanka says. How much more motivation do you need?
To schedule a colonoscopy, please call 1-800-737-7900 or visit stedocs.com for more information.
