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Colon Cancer Screening services offered in Denton, TX
Colon cancer screening saves lives because this type of cancer doesn't cause symptoms until it reaches an advanced, hard-to-treat stage. Board-certified gastroenterologist Abhinandan Raj, MD, at Denton Digestive Institute PLLC, has extensive experience protecting your health by performing a colonoscopy, the only way to accurately find and remove colon cancer. Dr. Raj does colonoscopies at four hospitals in the Denton area and can schedule prompt appointments at your convenience. To learn more, call the office in Denton, Texas, or book online today.
Colon Cancer Screening Q & A
What is colon cancer screening?
Screening refers to a test that detects disease before you have any signs or symptoms. You can get colon cancer screening through two basic types of tests, stool tests and a colonoscopy.
How do stool tests screen for colon cancer?
Stool tests detect hidden blood in your stool, DNA from cancer cells in your colon, or both. Cancerous polyps often bleed a little, causing traces of blood in your stool that you can’t see.
You take stool tests at home and then send the sample to a lab. If your stool test results are positive, you need to have a colonoscopy to find and remove the source.
What type of colon cancer screening is a colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is the gold standard for colon cancer screening because Dr. Raj can also remove polyps during the procedure. Colon cancer begins in polyps that grow from the colon wall.
Removing polyps prevents colon cancer. If a polyp has already turned cancerous, removing it cures the disease (as long as the cancer hasn't spread).
During a colonoscopy, Dr. Raj guides a scope (a long, flexible tube) through your anus, rectum, and colon (large intestine). A camera in the scope sends images to a monitor, giving Dr. Raj a magnified view of the inner colon wall. He examines the wall on the way through the large intestine.
After reaching the small intestine, he slowly withdraws the scope, continuing to carefully examine the colon. At any time during the procedure, Dr. Raj can remove polyps and inflamed tissues using tools that go through the scope. Then the tissues go to a lab, where they’re examined for cancerous cells.
When should I get colon cancer screening?
The American Cancer Society recommends that everyone with an average risk for colon cancer should get their first colon cancer screening at the age of 45. If your risk is high, you may need to have your first screening at an earlier age and get more frequent follow-up screenings.
You have a high risk of developing colon cancer if you have:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease)
- A family history of colon polyps or colon cancer
- A personal history of polyps or colon cancer
- A history of radiation treatment targeting the pelvic or abdominal areas
- A family history of high-risk hereditary syndromes like Lynch syndrome
The best way to learn when you should start colon cancer screening and how frequently you need to get screened is to schedule an appointment for a risk assessment.
If you want to schedule a risk assessment or colon cancer screening, call Denton Digestive Institute PLLC, or book an appointment online today.