Colon Polyps & Colon Cancer
Facts about Colorectal Cancer
Consider these facts:
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- Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause
of cancer death in the United States among
both men and women.
- About 150,000 patients are diagnosed with
colorectal cancer each year, and more than
40 percent of these will die of the disease.
- The lifetime risk for developing colorectal
cancer for an American is 1 in 18
- The vast majority of colorectal cancers
begin as non-cancerous growths called
polyps. Removal of colon polyps during
colonoscopy reduces your chance of
developing colon cancer by greater than 90%.
- Early stage colorectal cancer can be cured
by surgery
- Spastic colon = irritable bowel syndrome
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For this reason, testing for colorectal cancer should
be part of your comprehensive medical care.
Frequently asked Questions about
Colonoscopy
There is no history in my family for colorectal
cancer—am I still at risk?
Yes. All men and women aged 50 and older are
at risk for developing colorectal cancer.
And some individuals are at higher-than-average
risk for colorectal cancer. If you have a family
member who had colorectal cancer or colon
polyps, or if you personally have had colitis or
colon polyps, you may need to begin screening
in your 30s or 40s.
If you are a woman and have had either breast
or uterine cancer you also have a slightly higher
risk of developing colorectal cancer.
If your diet is high in fat or low in fiber, if you
smoke or drink excessive alcohol, if you do not
exercise, or if you are obese you are also at
increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Your first step in preventing this serious disease
is to speak with your physician at NYGA to
evaluate your own circumstances carefully and
fully assess your individual risk for colorectal cancer.
Do I have to go into a hospital for my examination?
No. At NYGA, we perform your colonoscopy
at our fully-equipped suite within our office.This
setting allows us to provide you the best possible
quality, comfort, convenience and privacy.
Is the procedure painful?
Absolutely not. In an effort to ensure your comfort,
the physicians at NYGA have developed an
improved method of sedation for colonoscopy.
You can now have your colonoscopy with virtually
no discomfort. In fact, patients typically do not
recall the colonoscopy at all, yet are alert and
ready to return to normal activities within an
hour or so after the conclusion of the procedure.
What are the chances of acquiring a
transmissible infection from colonoscopy?
Almost zero.There have been rare reports of
infection transmitted during colonoscopy, though
none of these cases occurred at NYGA. Upon
investigation of these cases, it was discovered
that the infection was transmitted through contaminated needles and medication vials,
not the colonoscope.
At NYGA,
we take
many steps
to ensure
the sterility
of our
equipment,
so you will
have a completely
safe
exam.We use a specially designed endoscope
sterilizer. Our catheters and needles are all
single-use so as to eliminate any risk of infection.
Do I have to drink a gallon of salty fluid and
take enemas to clean out my colon in preparation
for the procedure?
No. For your convenience, we offer a choice
of two simpler and more palatable alternatives
for bowel cleansing. One requires two small
glasses of a laxative solution.The other
requires that you take pill laxatives the night
before the procedure. The cleansing achieved
by these regimens is excellent, and no enemas
are needed.
Will I need to go home after the colonoscopy
and rest for the day?
No. In a recently completed research study of
almost 1000 procedures at NYGA, patients recovered
from the examination within 20-25 minutes,
and almost all individuals were able to return to
their normal activities almost immediately.
I have heard a lot about “virtual” colonoscopy.
How does this test compare to real colonoscopy?
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| Conventional Colonoscopy of a sigmoid colon polyp |
Virtual Colonoscopy of a sigmoid colon polyp |
Virtual colonoscopy uses X-ray shadows to
study your colon. Because it is a new test,
nobody knows how accurate it really is. Most probably, virtual colonoscopy is accurate if you
have a large colon cancer. But if you have a
smaller growth, virtual colonoscopy may miss it.
Despite its clever name, virtual colonoscopy is
not easier to undergo than real colonoscopy.
The examinations require you to take the same
bowel-cleansing regimen.You may actually
experience more discomfort during virtual
colonoscopy than real colonoscopy. And if a
growth is found on virtual colonoscopy, you
will then need to undergo a real colonoscopy
(on a different day and after a second bowel
preparation) to take care of the problem
once and for all.
For all these reasons, we at NYGA believe
strongly that real colonoscopy provides you
with the most safe, comfortable and convenient
colorectal cancer screening test available today.
Patient preperation for a colonoscopy
In order for the examination to be thorough, the colon must be properly cleansed of all intestinal contents. Careful attention to the bowel evacuation instructions will permit your physician to perform the optimal examination, as well as improving the efficiency of the procedure.
There are several different regimens to achieve bowel evacuation. A staff member will review these options with you at the time that the examination is scheduled. Please inform our staff of your active medical conditions as well as all medications that you are using. It is usually recommended that all aspirin compounds and iron containing vitamins be stopped one week before the examination. Exceptions to this should be discussed with our staff or physician.
Colon Polyp
A colon polyp is any growth arising from the wall of the large intestine. The size of a polyp is extremely variable, a minute lesion no bigger than a freckle, to a large mass the size of a grapefruit. most polyps require endoscopic removal due to their potential to become cancerous growths. Colonoscopic removal of polyps is an important step in the prevention of colon and rectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States.
During the colonoscopic examination, the doctor will remove any polyp that is encountered. most polyps can be removed during a single session using snare wire and electracautery. When required, multiple polyps can be removed during a single session. Rarely, a very large polyp may require more than one session to safely remove all of the abnormal tissue.
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