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A COLONOSCOPY is one of the best tests
for the early detection of colorectal cancer,
which kills more than 50,000 people in
the U.S. each year.
But misinformation about the test
and the cancer abound, keeping people
from getting screened on time.
Here are five essentials to know about
colorectal cancer:
1. Colorectal cancer can, in many
cases, be prevented.
“The cancer
almost always starts with a small,
precancerous growth called a polyp,”
says Paul Evans, MD, PeaceHealth
Medical Group gastroenterologist.
“Polyps can be found only with certain
tests, such as a colonoscopy or a flexible
sigmoidoscopy. If the polyp is found
early, doctors can remove it before it
develops into cancer.”
Researchers also have found that
a healthy lifestyle lowers the risk of
colorectal cancer.
5 things
Colore
When to see
your doctor
Many people with colorectal cancer
have no symptoms, especially early in
the course of the disease. So regular
screening is key for finding cancer
before it spreads.
Scan the code to hear PeaceHealth
Medical Group gastroenterologist
Andrew Mirhej, MD, discuss colorectal
cancer prevention and the benefits of colonoscopies.
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Health Connection