Our Take: Beacon gastroenterologist explains colon cancer screenings
In the news: Last week, film and television star Kirstie Alley passed away after a brief battle with colon cancer, joining a long list of celebrities who have succumbed to the disease such as film and television actor Chadwick Boseman and NFL football coach Vince Lombardi. Colon cancer is deadly because its symptoms largely go undetected until it has spread elsewhere. Alley’s cancer was discovered only a short time before her death.
Our take: We sat down with Beacon Medical Group gastroenterologist Dr. Abuzafar Arif to talk about colon cancer detection and prevention. Colon cancer is treatable if it is caught early.
How common is colon cancer?
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths.
How does it start?
A majority of colon cancers begin as a lump or growth of abnormal cells in the colon called a polyp. The cells in a polyp grow uncontrollably and over a period of time lead to cancer.
Who is most at risk?
There are multiple risk factors for colon cancer, including a family history of the disease, personal history of colon polyps, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, red meat consumption and a low-fiber diet.
Why is it so hard to detect?
Precancerous polyps and early cancer do not cause any symptoms. Once symptoms appear, it is either too late or it has spread elsewhere.
What is the best way to prevent colon cancer?
A colonoscopy is the gold standard test for colon cancer screening. In this one procedure, the whole colon is examined and if any polyps are discovered, they are removed at the same time.
How often should people get a colonoscopy?
Forty-five years old is the age to begin screening among all average-risk adults. If the results come back normal, then the patient can have a follow-up colonoscopy every 10 years. If polyps are discovered and removed, then it’s a different story. Depending on the number and size of the polyps, the physician will suggest a colonoscopy every one to five years. If the patient has a family history of colon cancer, they may need to be monitored both earlier and more often.
What if I’m uncomfortable with the whole idea of the procedure? Are there other options?
A few other stool tests are also available for colon cancer screening, but there is a small chance of false positives and negative results. Even if the tests come back positive, then eventually the patient will need a colonoscopy. Like I said, it’s the gold standard for detecting the early signs of the disease.
What would you say to those who are putting off getting a colonoscopy, whatever their reason?
The purpose of a colonoscopy is to find and remove polyps before they turn into cancer or to detect cancer before it spreads out of the colon. The message is simple: Colon cancer is preventable and curable.
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