Find out if you should be screened and what a colon screening entails.

Getting a colon cancer screening might not be the highlight of your year but it’s certainly an important one, nonetheless. While there are some misconceptions out there that believe that only men get colon cancer, our Wesley Chapel, FL, gastroenterologist Dr. Saeed Ahmed is here to tell you that both men and women can develop this type of cancer and should be getting screened regularly.

When should I start getting a colon cancer screening?

It’s always a good idea to start getting colorectal cancer screenings by the age of 50. Both men and women are at risk so it’s important that everyone comes in for these routine visits even if they aren’t experiencing any symptoms. Symptoms don’t have to be present to let our Wesley Chapel, FL, GI doctor know that something is going on.

Of course, if you have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, polyps or even ulcerative colitis then you may need to come in sooner for screenings. This is something to talk to your doctor about.

What does a colon screening entail?

The best way to screen for colon cancer is by performing a colonoscopy. This simple outpatient procedure allows us to view the inside of the colon using a thin flexible tube. This test is finished in about 45 minutes or less and the patient is under the effects of sedation so they don’t feel a thing.

If results look good and there are no signs of cancer or precancerous polyps, then it will most likely be recommended that you come back every 10 years for a colonoscopy. In some cases, a flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years may be all that’s needed. We may also require a stool sample for testing once a year.

If you are at risk of developing colon cancer or you are over the age of 50 then it’s time you called Digestive Disease Associates of Central Florida in Wesley Chapel, FL, to schedule your colon cancer screening. Call our office today!