![]() Inflammation and ulceration – The lining of the colon can be irritated, inflamed and ulcerated for many reasons, including infection, medications (such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs), inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and cancer.Risk factors for colon polyps are similar to those for colon cancer, including advanced age, family history of polyps or cancer, a diet high in red meat, or a history of inflammatory bowel disease. While small polyps can often be removed during colonoscopy, larger ones may require surgery. The more adenomas you have and the larger they are, the higher the risk that one or more of them contains cancerous tissue or will develop into colon cancer. Neoplastic – These include adenocarcinoma (colon cancer) and adenomas, which are precancerous.Benign – These do not become cancerous and include "hyperplastic" and "inflammatory" polyps that usually require no treatment.Colonic polyps – These are outgrowth of tissue from the lining of the colon.Perforation, in which diverticulitis causes a tear or hole in the colon, is the most serious complication surgery may be necessary. When they do cause trouble – bleeding or infection with inflammation (diverticulitis) – prompt treatment is usually effective. Although about half of adults have them, most cause no symptoms or problems. Diverticular disease – This term refers to the presence of outpouchings in the colon where a weakness in the muscular wall bulges outward.Fortunately, swelling of hemorrhoids can often be prevented and effectively treated. When they do cause symptoms, they're usually more of an annoyance than a danger. While they may cause pain, itching or bleeding (especially when they swell or "flare up"), they often cause no trouble at all. ![]() Hemorrhoids – These are clumps of veins near the surface of the lining of the rectum.Normal findings – This is what everyone hopes to hear! If no abnormalities are discovered, an adult at average risk of colon cancer is generally advised to have a repeat colonoscopy 10 years until age 75.Here's a primer on what your colonoscopy may reveal: But, often neither is found instead, other, potentially confusing or surprising findings may be discovered. As a screening test, it's usually done to find colon cancer or precancerous polyps. Much is written about "the prep" for colonoscopy (to clean out the colon so that its interior can be clearly viewed) and the procedure itself, but less is written about what the results may mean. Despite the compelling evidence of the benefits and low risk of the procedure, only 2/3 of eligible adults in the US have the test. While the test does come with some risks (such as pain, bleeding or even perforation), serious complications are quite rare. It is often recommended for younger people or more frequently for those who notice blood in their stool, have unexplained anemia or a change in bowel habits, have a strong family history of colon cancer or other risk factors for the disease. It should be repeated every 10 years thereafter until age 75. We're lucky to have such a good screening test for colon cancer - colonoscopy can not only detect tumors while they're curable, but it can identify precancerous polyps which can be removed before they become cancerous.įor people at average risk of colon cancer, colonoscopy is usually recommended as a screening test at age 50 (or age 45, according to the American Cancer Society). As awful as it may sound, it's usually well-tolerated: you're sedated for the procedure and often people don't even remember having it. That's the test during which a doctor places a flexible tube through the rectum into the colon to look for polyps, tumors or other problems. So, you should be familiar with colonoscopy (if you aren't already). ![]() ![]() This makes it the 2 nd leading cause of cancer-related death in the US. Colon cancer is among the most common – and preventable – cancers: about 140,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer each year in the US and more than 50,000 people die of the disease annually. ![]()
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