If you feel you might have issues with bowel movements or other intestinal issues, Dr. Jeong Kim in Honolulu, HI, provides proper treatment for gastrointestinal issues. He also provides colon cancer screenings at GI Health Hawaii, including colonoscopies.
What is a Colon Cancer Screening?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that colorectal cancer screening looks for signs of cancer when there are not any symptoms. The goal is to look for polyps or lesions before they become cancer cells. For colon cancer, there are not any noticeable symptoms, so the screening is a preventive measure to look out for any signs before cancer can occur. Colorectal cancer mostly develops from precancerous polyps or abnormal growths. The screenings include stool tests, a colonoscopy, or a virtual colonoscopy. The CDC recommends these screenings for ages 45-75.
The colonoscopy is conducted by inserting a thin tube in the body's anus, to see inside the small and large intestines. A camera and light are attached to the tube for observations inside the intestines. The images appear on the screen, allowing the Gastroenterologist to see if there are any polyps or lesions inside the intestines. A gastroenterologist in Honolulu, HI like Dr. Kim, can remove the polyps or lesions and send them to the lab for a biopsy.
Why Is Colon Cancer Screening Important?
The American Cancer Society states that in 2016, 95,000 people were diagnosed with colon cancer. It stated that many people found out they had colon cancer due to a colonoscopy. Many of the symptoms are not obvious, and they might not cause an alarm. Here are some symptoms of colon cancer to look out for:
- Constipation or diarrhea lasting more than four weeks.
- An unexplained weight loss without trying to lose weight.
- Fatigue
- Seeing blood in your stool could be hemorrhoids, but could also be colon cancer.
- Feeling like your bowel movement is never complete.
The symptoms of colon cancer usually appear in the later stages. It is crucial to get screened early so cancer can be treated before it is serious. Those who are at high risk for colon cancer should get screened at age 45 if they have a family history of colon cancer. Also, if you have any inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, it's crucial to get a colonoscopy as well. The risk of colon cancer increases with age, so get your first screening once you become eligible. The colonoscopy is done every 10 years.
If you're at least age 45 or might have colon cancer symptoms, call Dr. Kim, a gastroenterologist at GI Health Hawaii, in Honolulu, HI at (808) 888-0967.