Monthly Medical Forum

Dr. Sorenson

Colon cancer is a common, potentially lethal, yet preventable disease.  It is very uncommon in persons below age 40 but, the incidence rises rapidly after that.  The average person has a 5% lifetime risk of developing colon cancer.  With regular screening that risk can be reduced. 

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women combined, and approximately one in three people who develop colon cancer will die of the disease.  That suggests that left unchecked, 1 in 20 people in Brainerd will develop colon cancer and one third of them will die of their disease.  However, screening with colonoscopy now makes it possible to detect existing cancers at an early, curable stage and even to prevent the development of colon cancer altogether.

If you are 50 years of age or older, getting a screening colonoscopy now could save your life.  Colon cancer usually starts as a small benign polyp. Over the course of time this benign polyp can develop into a malignant colon cancer.  The progression takes many years in most people.  This leaves a window of opportunity during which colonoscopy can be used to remove polyps before they turn into cancer or if cancer is already present, to find it at an early stage when the chance of cure is greatest.  Colon cancer has no warning signs early in its course.  Only when it is further advanced do symptoms of blood in the stool, changing bowel habits and weight loss occur.  This is why having screening colonoscopy is so important!

The “bottom line” is if you are 50 years of age or older, talk with your doctor today, about getting your screening colonoscopy soon !