Weekly Health Page Articles: Cancer Institute

Screenings Key to Colon Cancer Prevention 

Updated guidelines from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) continue to stress the importance of initial/regular colorectal cancer screenings for people over age 50 and recommend colonscopy as the preferred method for diagnostic evaluation.

"Regular colon cancer screenings clearly have benefits for people because most types of colon cancer have no symptoms early on," says Stanley D. Sides, MD, FACP, hematologist/oncologist on staff at Saint Francis Medical Center's Cancer Institute. "Screenings can detect cancer tumors sooner when treatment is most successful."

After an initial colorectal cancer screening, the AGA proposes adjusting follow-up surveillance according to a patient's risk factors. Talk to your doctor about starting colorectal cancer screening earlier or undergoing screening more often if you have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps or a personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

From Weekly Health Page: June 4, 2006