Are you nearing the age of 50? Then, it's time for your screening colonocosopy at Mesquite Gastroenterology and Surgery Center in Tucson, AZ. Dr. Miguel Arenas recommends these procedures as the most accurate way to detect colon cancer in its earliest stages.
What is the colon?
Also called the large intestine or bowel, your colon processes waste products after digestion. It also regulates the absorption of fluids in the body.
Typically, the colon is smooth and pain-free. However, some inflammatory conditions, such as Crohn's Disease, can cause extreme intestinal upset and malfunction with symptoms such as diarrhea and bleeding. A colonoscopy performed at Mesquite Gastroenterology and Surgery Center in Tucson helps Dr. Arenas pinpoint this diagnosis and others, too, including colon cancer.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) says that colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. It originates in small growths called polyps. Polyps tend to develop after age 50, and while most are benign, others change into cancer and may spread beyond the bowel wall.
What is a colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy detects these polyps and enables the gastroenterologist to remove them for biopsy. Performed at Mesquite Gastroenterology and Surgery Center in Tucson, a colonoscopy is a precise diagnostic procedure that takes real-time video and still images of the interior of the bowel.
After a laxative preparation the day before your procedure, you'll go into the office to receive a sedating medication. In the procedure room, you'll be placed on your side, and Dr. Arenas will insert a thin, flexible colonoscope into the rectum.
The colonoscope has a light and a small digital camera. The doctor advances the scope through the length of your bowel. He removes any polyps he detects. A colonoscopy takes about half an hour to complete, and you'll receive test results in the recovery room. Any biopsy results take about a week to come back.
Your colon health
Colon cancer has a high cure rate when detected early. That's why routine colon cancer screening beginning at age 50 is vital to your overall health and peace of mind. For more information or to arrange your routine colonoscopy, please contact Mesquite Gastroenterology and Surgery Center in Tucson, AZ. Dr. Miguel Arenas and his team are ready to help you have excellent GI health. Call (520) 722-0745.