It is common to think that, if you’re in good health, you exercise, eat right and don’t have a family history of colon cancer you don’t need to get a colonoscopy. While this thought process makes sense in theory, it is flawed. This is because most colon cancers begin as pre-cancerous small lesions called polyps. These polyps sit in the intestine without symptoms for 5-10 years until they start to change into cancer, and then these tumors invade the wall of the bowel, spreading locally within the abdomen and distantly to the liver, lungs and brain. So, even if you’re healthy and are doing all the right things, you could develop colon cancer and have no signs or symptoms of the disease.
In general, only 20% of patients diagnosed today are symptomatic or have clinical, laboratory or radiologic evidence of extensive disease. This group makes up the majority of those who ultimately die, most within three years of diagnosis. The average age at diagnosis is about 70, with 90% over the age of 50. Over 80% of the time the newly diagnosed patient with this cancer is the first individual in his or her family with this condition.
When it comes to colon cancer, early detection is key to saving lives. For example, if you choose not to get a colonoscopy and polyps develop in your colon and become cancerous, your chance of survival decreases the longer the cancer is left to grow. However, if you get a screening colonoscopy when recommended by your doctor, any polyps that are detected during the screening can be removed before they become cancerous. And, if the polyps are cancerous at the time of removal, they hopefully will have been caught at an early stage, making your chances of survival much greater. In fact, the survival for those individuals diagnosed on a screening examination today exceeds 80%.
Here are some other interesting facts to consider when debating getting a colonoscopy:
- A vast majority of colon cancer today is preventable with screening colonoscopy.
- Today, 65% of those at risk for colon cancer have enrolled in screening programs.
- In the U.S., the lifetime risk of people to develop colon cancer is about 1 in 20.
- The mortality of this cancer is slowly declining with each decade.
- African Americans appear to get colon cancer at an earlier age and have more advanced disease at the time of diagnosis, hence a greater chance of death; many organizations are pushing for screening to start at age 45 in this population.
- Only 3-5% of patients with colon cancer have identifiable genetic disorders in their families that predispose them to this cancer, representing a segment of our society who should undergo screening much earlier and regularly than others deemed of average risk.
- A family history of colon or rectal cancer or polyps, or a personal history of such polyps increases the risks of polyps and colon cancers in parents, siblings and children of those affected, and these people should be vigilant about seeking early and regular colonoscopy per well-established protocols.
- A family history of colon cancer below the age of 60, endometrial cancer, or personal history of chronic colitis, diabetes mellitus or obesity all increase an individual’s risk for this cancer and he or she should consult a gastroenterologist for counseling.
- 3% of all deaths of all causes annually in the U.S. are due to colon cancer.
To schedule a colonoscopy, contact GHS Gastroenterology at (864) 455-2888 or GHS Colon and Rectal Surgery at (864) 522-1600.
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