Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Click here to view a Polyp Removal Video
A: Because 95% of colon cancers develop from polyps. These polyps take an average of 15 years to develop into cancer. If you have a screening colonoscopy during that time, the doctor will remove the polyp and prevent the cancer.
A: No. There are two types of polyps: Adenomatous and hyperplastic. Only the adenomatous have the danger of becoming cancer. Unfortunately, 2 out of 3 polyps are the dangerous type.
A: The purpose of a mammogram is to find the breast cancer early, before it has had a chance to spread. With regular screening mammograms, a woman can reduce her risk of dying of breast cancer by 30%. Colonoscopy is superior because it has the added benefit of actually preventing the development of the cancer by removing the pre-cancerous polyps. Similarly for prostate cancer, the PSA helps identify men with prostate cancer that has not spread, but it does NOT prevent the development of prostate cancer. Colon cancer is “the preventable cancer” because of the long time period from the appearance of a polyp to the time it becomes cancerous.
A: Unfortunately, 85% of colon cancer patients present AFTER they experience a symptom. Most of them will die. The proper time to be tested is BEFORE ANY SYMPTOMS develop, when the cure rate is 95%. In America, only 20% of people over 50 are screened with colonoscopy.
A: There are three main reasons:
1. Facts: too few know the facts on the preventability of colon cancer.
2. Fear: Many think the test is painful. This is not true. You are “put to sleep” for the test. 90% do not remember anything about the test.
3. Finance: For those without insurance, the test at a hospital would cost approximately $2,000. Although a colonoscopy is 10 times more likely to save a life than a mammogram, it can be twenty times as expensive. More insurance companies are covering colonoscopy as a routine screening test.
A: Colon cancer is slightly MORE common in women, but only a little. It may only be due to the fact that they live longer?
A: Colon cancer is an equal opportunity killer. More African-Americans die of colon cancer, due to the stage at which it is discovered. Less African-Americans are screened, so the disease is more advanced when diagnosed, so more will die.
A: Remember: you should be screened BEFORE any symptoms develop- when the cure rate is 95%. If you wait until any symptoms develop the cure rate drops to 15%! But, since you asked here are the symptoms:
1. Passing blood with bowel movements.
2. Change in the bowel habits: either constipation OR diarrhea.
3. Change in the thickness of the stool.
4. Unexplained weight loss.
5. Abdominal pain.
6. Anemia (low blood).
A: For individuals with a family history, screening should start earlier, usually at age 40. If the polyps or colon cancer was discovered at an early age, screenings should begin 15 years younger than the age of the person with the polyps or cancer.
A: No.
A: Definitely YES! A sigmosidoscopy only examines less than half of the colon. Half of the polyps and cancers are beyond the reach of the sigmoidoscope. It has been said that performing a sigmoidoscopy is like asking a woman to have a mammogram- but only on one breast!
A: The only way to eliminate the 55,000 unnecessary deaths is to screen everyone over 50. It is your body. You know if you need to be screened. A referral is not required. You are encouraged to discuss colon cancer screening with your doctor. The important thing is to be screened.
A: There are four groups of physicians who perform most of the colonoscopies: gastroenterologists, surgeons, colo-rectal surgeons, and primary care physicians.
A: There are four measures of quality in colonoscopy:
1. How often is the doctor able to get to the end to examine the entire colon? Sometimes the twists and turns prevent a complete test. The national average is 92%
2. How often does the doctor find polyps? The more careful the exam, the less polyps that are missed. The national average is 38%.
3. How much pain does the patient feel? A good doctor should prevent any memorable pain in over 90% of cases.
4. How often are there problems? Complications can occur. In several studies, complications occur in 3 per 1,000 cases. The most serious complication is for a hole to occur (a “perforation”). Check with the doctor who will perform your test and ask for specific statistics on the four quality measures. The more experience, in general, the better.
A: The quality of the test is dependant on the quality of the bowel cleansing. The better the prep, the better the test. For many years, we used a gallon of “Golytely.” Now we use ducolax tablets and 2 bottles of magnesium citrate.
A: If you have no risk factors and had a completely normal test, you don’t have to have another test for TEN YEARS. If you have ever had polyps or a family history of polyps or cancer, the interval should not exceed FIVE YEARS. If you had a polyp during your last test, the timing for the next test depends on the lab report- usually three to five years, but occasionally sooner if the polyp was cancerous or near cancer.
Hgb- All patients
Urine HCG- All females of child bearing age (unless s/p hysterectomy)
EKG- Males –Over age of 40; Females-Over age of 50
-Cardiace Disease
-Hypertension
-Diabetes
BMP - Over age of 65 years
-Diabetes
-Cardiac Disease
-Renal Disease
-Lupus
LFT’S - History of Hepatitis
CBC WITH DIFF – Moderate-Severe anemia or recent blood loss
OTHER – Consult Anesthesia
*Urine HCG and Hgb can be done day of surgery at facility
|
