When do you need a colonoscopy? Here are the cases when it is necessary to go through this procedure once in a while.
1. You Are Older Than 45
As you become older, your chances of acquiring colon cancer rise. It is significantly more frequent after the age of 45, but it can also affect younger persons. Colon cancer is becoming more common among those under the age of 45, for unknown reasons.
2. You Have a Personal History of Colon Polyps and Cancer
A history of adenomatous polyps (adenomas) increases your chances of acquiring colon cancer. This is especially true for people who have had huge polyps, a lot of polyps, or if any of them are dysplastic. After polyps are discovered and your findings are established, your gastroenterologist will propose a screening regimen depending on your specific risk. If you've had cancer before, talk to your oncologist or gastroenterologist about your colonoscopy screening regimen.
3. You Have a Family History of Colon Polyps and Cancer
Though most colon cancers are detected in persons who have no family history, up to one-third of those who get colon cancer have family relatives who have had it. Having a first-degree family (parent, sibling, or child) with a history of colon cancer increases your risk. That risk increases if the first-degree relative was diagnosed before the age of 50, or if more than one first-degree relative has colon cancer.
Having family members with adenomatous polyps, which can develop into cancer, is also associated with an increased risk of colon cancer. It's unclear why this is. Cancer can run in families due to genetics, environmental causes, or both.
Those with a family history of adenomatous polyps or colon cancer should consult their physicians about when to begin screening. It is probable that they will need to begin colon cancer screening before the age of 45. Those who have had adenomatous polyps or colon cancer should notify their close relatives so that they may inform their doctors, who can advise on when screening should begin.
4. You Have a Personal History of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, increases the chance of developing colon cancer. IBD differs from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which does not appear to raise the risk of colon cancer. People with IBD may need to start colon cancer screening earlier and more regularly.
5. You Have Colon Cancer Symptoms
Though early colon cancer often has no symptoms, anyone suffering the following symptoms should consult a gastroenterologist:
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Blood in the stool;
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Unexpected weight loss;
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Rectal bleeding;
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Abdominal pain.
These symptoms do not always indicate colon cancer, although a colonoscopy can help detect several gastrointestinal issues.
Lifestyle-Related Risk Factors for Colon Cancer
Some colon cancer risk factors are lifestyle-related and modifiable. The following are lifestyle-related risk factors for colon cancer:
People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop and die from colon cancer. Though being overweight raises the risk of colon cancer in both men and women, the association appears to be higher in males. If you're overweight and want to change your diet, a licensed dietician can assist;
People who are not physically active are more likely to acquire colon cancer. The American Cancer Society advises that individuals engage in up to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise, or a mix of both per week;
Dietary habits can increase the chance of acquiring colon cancer. Eating a lot of red meats (such as beef, hog, or lamb) or processed meats increases your risk. Preparation is important, too. Frying, broiling, grilling, and other techniques of cooking meat at high temperatures produce compounds that may increase the risk.
Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as limiting or eliminating red and processed meats and sugary beverages, is likely to reduce the risk.
Long-term tobacco smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop and die of colon cancer. Smoking has been connected to many more cancers than merely the lung and colon.
Moderate or high alcohol use has been associated with colon cancer. Even mild drinking has been linked to an increased chance of acquiring colon cancer. It is advisable to entirely abstain. If people drink, men should limit themselves to two drinks per day and women to one. Reducing alcohol use has several health advantages, including lowering the risk of many types of cancer.