An outpatient colonoscopy procedure is the most effective way to prevent colon cancer. Colonoscopy can detect early tissue changes before they lead to colon cancer. But this screening test doesn’t have the same guidelines for everyone. Here’s what you should know about when to contact our office for a colonoscopy.
1. For most people, the first colonoscopy should be done at age 50. If the results are normal, it’s usually only necessary to do a follow-up screening once every 10 years.
2. If you are African American and aged 45 or older, get your first colonoscopy procedure now. In 2009, the American College of Gastroenterology lowered the recommended age to start screening in African Americans. This demographic appears to be at higher risk of developing adenomas (precancerous growths) earlier in life and suffers from a poor survival rate for colon cancer due to delayed detection.
3. If you have a positive test result on your yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT), seek further testing right away. The stool test can be a clue to detect cancer, and you need to follow up with a colonoscopy as soon as possible to get screened.
4. Do you have a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) who has been diagnosed with polyps or
colorectal cancer? Talk to your doctor about getting screened as early as age 40, or ten years
younger than the age your family member was when they received their diagnosis.
5. Patients with a history of bowel problems such as polyps or inflammatory bowel disease
(ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease) are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer and
require earlier screening. Unexplained weight loss, bloody stool, anemia, substantial changes in
bowel habits, and other symptoms of colon cancer may warrant a colonoscopy as well.
If you fall into any of these categories, you are ready to move forward with a screening.
Is It Difficult to Schedule a Colonoscopy Procedure?
No. At the Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California, we manage our schedule very effectively to see patients with focused attention in a timely fashion. We also offer “fast track” or open access colonoscopy for healthy patients which is a convenient way of undergoing this procedure without an office consultation. If you want to check this test off your “to do” list to protect your health and gain peace of mind for yourself and your family, contact our office today at (310) 271-1122.
