Choosing wisely

Colonoscopy: When you need it and when you don’t

It is the most accurate test for cancer of the rectum and colon. It is proven to detect the disease early and save lives. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Having to do a colonoscopy is usually not necessary to be done every five or ten years.

A protrusion growth, or polyp, in the colon or rectum is usually common and harmless in adults. But some polyps known as adenomas may eventually turn into cancer. Doctors can spot and remove polyps during a colonoscopy, which uses a flexible, lighted tube to examine inside the colon and rectum. If there are no adenomas or cancer you don’t have risk factors for the disease, the chance for it developing anytime soon is very less because the test misses very few adenomas, and colorectal cancer grows slowly. Even if a low-risk adenoma is removed, you’re unlikely to develop cancer for at least the next five years, and repeating this test sooner provides little to no benefit. So most people need the exam just once every ten years. Visit the best colonoscopy doctor in Kolkata or your city to get yourself checked.

The test can pose risks.

Colonoscopy is a safe procedure. But occasionally there is a chance of heavy bleeding, tears in the colon, inflammation or infection of pouches in the colon known as diverticulitis, severe abdominal pain, and problems in people with heart or blood- vessel disease. The test also causes much inconvenience to the patient. You have to have a strict diet and also take laxatives beforehand.

So when is it warranted?

People over 50 should check for signs of colon cancer. If a colonoscopy doesn’t find adenomas or cancer and there are no risk factors, the next test should be in ten years. If one or two adenomas are removed the test should be repeated after 5 to 10 years. Ask your health care provider when and how often to have a colonoscopy, if you having an inflammatory bowel disease visit a Hepatologist in Kolkata. Routine checks usually aren’t needed after age 75.

Protect against colon cancer:

The following steps can help:

· Make changes to your lifestyle. Eat more fruits and vegetables instead of red meat. Lose any excess weight and exercise regularly, limit alcohol and cigarette consumption.

· Get the tests done accurately. Carefully follow your doctor’s instructions preparing your bowels before the procedure.

· Report warning signs: These include changes in bowel habits lasting a week or two, such as rectal bleeding, dark and narrow stools, constipation or diarrhoea, or the urge to move your bowels when you don’t need to. Constant fatigue, anaemia, and unexplained weight loss can also be later signs.