Colon cancer: a colonoscopy is the best prevention!

Colon cancer: colonoscopy is the best prevention!

Colonoscopy: prevention against colon cancer A colonoscopy may detect several cases of cancer, and miss a few. However, doctors say the procedure of doing a colonoscopy is only as reliable as the practitioner. Researchers, who looked at the health records of more than 10,000 people in Canada who were diagnosed with and died of colon cancer between 1996 and 2003, found the procedure is not perfect.

“One of the ideas is flat polyps may not always look like polyps and may look like just regular lining of the colon,” said Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein of Rochester General Hospital. The study found colonoscopies missed a significant amount of cancer on the right side of the colon where 40 percent of colon cancer occurs. The data suggests a colonoscopy is 60-70 percent effective. Data Goldstein, says sends the wrong message. “This unfortunately tells a patient, well I’m hesitant and squeamish about the procedure and now they hear 40 percent are missed. People shouldn’t think that miss rates are 40 percent. People who have miss-rates of 40 percent shouldn’t be practicing,” said Goldstein. The American Cancer Society says even if the test is less effective it has no plans to change is recommended intervals between screenings. LEARN THE BASICS OF A HEALTHY COLON: • Why a colonoscopy is the best prevention against colon cancer • What to expect from a colonoscopy? • The basics of colonics • 8 Steps to get a healthy colon • The latest news about your colon