by Peter Twitchell
This article will be taken out of the Strength Behind Screening from the Bentah Nuutah Native Clinic in Wasilla, Alaska.
This is taken out of the monthly medical information, Be the Strength Behind Screening. For colorectal cancer screening should begin at age 40 for Alaskan native men and women.
If your mother, father, sister, or brother has ever been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, you should begin screening at age 40 or 10 years younger than the age of your family member was diagnosed, whichever comes first.
Screening most often consist of a visual exam, called a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy involves using a small scope to view the inside of your colon and is the most conclusive screening available.
Colonoscopy also allows a medical provider to remove polyps. Polyp removal reduces the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Stool screenings are available under certain conditions for people who are at average risk of developing colon cancer. The screenings look for blood and DNA changes within the stool.
If the stool sample results are very regular, colonoscopy will be scheduled. Colonoscopy enables the medical provider to investigate the source of stool irregularities in order for your medical provider to clearly see your large intestine.
It must be emptied before your appointment in order to do this. You will follow a special liquid diet the day before your colonoscopy and will be prescribed a bowel cleansing kit that usually consists of a laxative solution and or laxative pills.
This results in the urgent need to have a bowel movement. You will likely have many bowel movements during this process and will need to stay close to the toilet. Having wet wipes available may help the process to be more comfortable before the exam.
You will be given a sedative medication to help you relax. This medication may make you feel sleepy. You will lie on your side with your knees bent and covered by a sheet to protect your privacy.
A small lubricated scope will be inserted through the anus into the rectum and air is used to help inflate the colon, which allows the medical provider to see if any polyps are found. They can be removed or biopsied.
Any tissue removed during the exam will be sent to a lab for testing to check for the presence of cancer. You will need a support person to drive you home after the exam. Talk to your provider if you do not have a support person.
Preparation causes diarrhea and food restriction will cause hunger and bloating and gas after the exam. If polyps are removed, there may be slight bleeding present in the stool for a couple days after the exam and mild usually not serious reactions to sedation medication, bowel perforation, or tears.
Take precautions to prevent this by reviewing your complete medical history and adjusting procedure recommendations specifically for your case done once every 5 to 10 years upon recommendation by your provider. Growth can be removed without having to make another appointment. Bowel preparation allows the provider to check the health of the entire colon with more accuracy than a stool test. Screening is very important and I believe we owe it to ourselves to tell the doctor that we want screening, thank you.
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