Dealing with colon cancer can be a nightmare. If you don’t catch it at an early stage, it can be difficult to treat and it can end up spreading throughout your body. There are ways to prevent colon cancer and it’s important that you are doing what you can to keep yourself cancer-free.
Preventing Colon Cancer
The most obvious and easy way to prevent colon cancer is by getting a colonoscopy done. Colon cancer screenings are done during a colonoscopy and your doctor will look for any impending signs of colon cancer. It always starts with precancerous polyps, which are abnormal growths in the colon or rectum. Polyps can be present for years before cancer develops, so it’s important to screen for them before they turn cancerous. You should start getting screened at the age of 45 and you’ll get a colonoscopy every ten years or so.
If your doctor spots any polyps during your screening, they will be removed and biopsied. This can help stop cancer from spreading throughout your body and causing further complications. Symptoms don’t always occur at early stages, so it’s important to get a colon cancer screening, even if you think you’re completely fine.
You should be sure that you understand what your risks are and when you need to be screened. If you have a family history of colon cancer, you might need testing done at an earlier age than normal. It’s found that making healthy life choices and eating a proper diet can also help prevent colon cancer. You should be sure to maintain a healthy weight and engage in exercise on a regular basis.
Contact Your Gastroenterologist Today
Find out how you can lower your risk of developing colon cancer. Contact your gastroenterologist today to learn more about preventing colon cancer and if you’re due for your next screening.