Faith Regional Health Services | living WELL | Spring 2019

Just say yes to this test Fadi Rzouq, MD, Gastroenterologist 10 FAITH REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES IF A SCREENING TEST could save your life, wouldn’t you do it? Then consider getting a colonos- copy. It’s the most sensitive test for colon cancer, one of the leading cancer killers in the U.S. But colon cancer doesn’t have to be so deadly. By some estimates, if every adult followed screening recommen- dations, most colon cancer deaths could be prevented. That’s because colon cancer usually starts from abnormal growths, called polyps, in the colon or rectum. Over time, these growths can turn into colon cancer. But a colonoscopy can find polyps before they’re cancerous. And doctors can remove polyps during the test, which stops cancer from ever starting. A colonoscopy can also find cancer early, when treatment is most effective. Talk to your doctor. Most people should get screened for colorectal cancer starting at age 50. But ask your doctor what the best screening schedule is for you. “Our goal for the future is complete prevention of colon cancer,” says Fadi Rzouq, MD. “This is something that we can achieve if people do their colonoscopies at the age of 50.” What you can expect Here’s how a colonoscopy works: A doctor inserts a thin, lighted tube into the rectum. The tube is connected to a video camera so the doctor can see inside your rectum and entire colon. If the doctor spots a suspicious polyp, he or she will likely remove it right away. Probably the worst part of the whole experience: the bowel preparation you need to do beforehand to clean out your colon. But the test is not painful. You’ll be given medicine to make you sleep through it, so you won’t feel anything. Sources: American Cancer Society; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institutes of Health “Our goal for the future is complete prevention of colon cancer.” —Fadi Rzouq, MD