National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: Is It Your Time for a Colonoscopy?
2023年3月2日
作者:Brian Reed, MD
The 80s and 90s were a legendary time for cinema, with the release of some of the most well-known movies to date, 包括驱鬼者, 回到未来,阿甘, 笨, 空间果酱, 泰坦尼克号,这样的例子不胜枚举. But if these renowned pieces of pop culture were introduced to the big screen during your teenage years, it might be time to consider a different kind of screening – a colonoscopy. With March being National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, there’s no better time to schedule your appointment to get screened.
A colonoscopy is a screening that can identify colorectal 癌症 early, when the odds of successful treatment are greatest. It can also help find polyps that can be removed before they become 癌症ous. According to the American Cancer Society, you should begin colon 癌症 screenings at age 45. Those at higher risk may need to begin screening earlier, and more frequently and/or with specific tests.
Whether you begin at 45 or earlier if you’re at higher risk, the most important thing is to prioritize this vital screening when you reach the recommended age. Colorectal 癌症 is the third most common 癌症 diagnosed in both men and women, 不包括皮肤癌. It is also the third leading cause of 癌症 deaths in both men and women. And while the majority of these cases occur in people 50 and older, the disease can occur in men and women at any age.
Fortunately, colonoscopies are an easier procedure than many realize. Shortly before the procedure, you will be given medications to minimize your discomfort. This procedure is so tolerable, in fact, that many people will ask, “When will we start?” only to be told the procedure has already ended. During the approximately 30-minute procedure, any polyps found will be removed by the doctor, and tissue samples will be sent to a lab for a biopsy.
Colonoscopies are critical to diagnosing 癌症 early because the beginning stages of colorectal 癌症 can often appear without symptoms. A colonoscopy can detect 癌症 early, making it much easier to treat. 事实上, thanks in large part to colonoscopies, 的总体发病率, and death rates associated with, colorectal 癌症s have been on the decline for more than a decade. But this downward trend is mostly in older adults. In people younger than 50, rates have been increasing by one to two percent a year since the mid-90s.
Although the early stages of colorectal 癌症 are often symptomless, there are some common signs of colorectal 癌症s you should be aware of, according to the American Cancer Society, 包括:
·直肠出血;
· Blood in the stool or in the toilet after having a bowel movement;
·深色或黑色大便;
·改变排便习惯, including diarrhea or constipation or a narrowing of your stool, that lasts for more than a few days;
· Cramping, pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen;
· Weakness and fatigue; and
· Decreased appetite and unintentional weight loss.
While these symptoms can also be indicative of other health conditions, you should always talk to your doctor about them so he or she can help you get to the root of the issue and determine the underlying cause.
In addition to scheduling your colonoscopy and keeping an eye out for common symptoms, you can be proactive in preventing colon 癌症 by living a healthy lifestyle that includes daily exercise, 均衡饮食, 保持健康的体重, limiting your alcohol intake and eliminating smoking.
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. So, if you’re an 80s kid, it’s time to get to know your colon health better. 联系 Sumner Regional Medical Center at 800.424.文档 或访问“查找文档”选项卡 to schedule your colonoscopy today. 了解更多信息 about colorectal 癌症, visit http://www.癌症.org/cancer/colon.