It’s everyone’s worst nightmare to go in for a routine test only to find that he or she is now worse off than before, yet that’s exactly what happened at VA hospitals in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Augusta, Georgia; and Miami, Florida. Out of 10,000 patients who had colon cancer screening, 6 veterans tested positive for HIV, 34 tested positive for hepatitis C and 13 tested positive for hepatitis B following their routine procedures. One could argue these people may have needed a hepatitis treatment prior to their colonoscopy treatments; that these were just isolated incidents. However, there are a few risks of colonoscopy procedures that should be discussed beforehand. [click to continue…]
Most individuals develop colon cancer rather slowly, over several years. The first stage of development occurs when a mass of tissues, tumors or polyps (a cluster of benign tumors) grow within the colon walls. Polyp type cancers can grow into the wall of the colon, invade nearby lymph nodes and spread to other organs in the body. This is called “metastatic colon cancer” because of its mobility. In some cases, the lining of the colon may be irregular and inflamed, which may also lead to cancer. To prevent colon cancer, regular testing is vital after the age of 50. [click to continue…]
Roughly 30% of middle-aged and older Americans have one or more polyps on the surface of the colon, which are relatively harmless but may become cancerous over time. While anyone can develop a polyp, some people are at higher risk of turning up with one during a bowel cancer screening, such as those over 50, smokers, overweight individuals, people on a high-fat/low-fiber diet, or those with family histories of colon cancer. Some early colon cancer symptoms include rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and a change in bowel movements, but these are rarely found until it’s too late, which underscores the importance of early screening.
One of the primary things doctors look for in a bowel cancer screening is the presence of colon polyps. A polyp is an unusual growth on the surface of the colon, also called the large intestine. Some polyps appear bulbous, yellow and round, while others are red and yellow and recessed into the wall like a scab. Usually, these polyps are non-cancerous and benign, but sometimes they turn into cancer. As a precautionary method, pathologists will remove and examine these growths for evidence of metastatic colon cancer. [click to continue…]
The definition of colon cancer is “cancer that forms in the tissues of the colon, which is the longest part of the large intestine.” Most often, a colon cancer cell is responsible for making and releasing mucus and other fluids, so it’s very easy to pass on to surrounding tissues. This type of cancer is called an adenocarcinoma. This cancer progresses slowly over the years, through five different stages, which can often be detected through screening colonoscopy procedures.
With colon cancer, the initial stage, which is Stage 0, is found in the epithelial tissue of the innermost lining of the colon. Here, doctors find cells that are abnormal but have not yet mobilized into full-blown cancer. To treat this stage, doctors will perform a polypectomy, which is a local excision to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue. This treatment is usually considered curative and often no further problems develop if caught early during colon cancer screening tests. In Stage I, the cancer has spread beyond the innermost layer to the second and third layers, as well as the inside wall of the colon. According to the National Cancer Institute’s most recent data (1991 to 2000), there is a 93% survival rate for colon cancer patients with Stage I cancer. [click to continue…]