Want to Know How You Can
Screen for Colon Cancer?
Get a Colonoscopy

COLON POLYPS ARE OFTEN HARMLESS AND EXHIBIT NO SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS. BUT OVER TIME, THESE GROWTHS IN THE LARGE INTESTINE, ALSO CALLED THE COLON, COULD LEAD TO COLORECTAL CANCER, THE THIRD MOST COMMON CANCER FOUND IN AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN TODAY.* THANKS TO BETTER SCREENING METHODS AND GUIDELINES, MANY COLON POLYPS CAN BE FOUND AND REMOVED EARLY, BEFORE THEY BECOME CANCEROUS.

Richard McGuire, MD, is a gastroenterologist at PL who can screen you for colon cancer. Some tests allow doctors to find and remove polyps that might become cancerous if left to grow.

Who Is at Risk?
Although anyone can develop colon polyps, certain factors can raise your risk. "Polyps are more common in people over age 50 and those who have a family member with a history of polyps or colon cancer," explains Richard McGuire, MD, a gastroenterologist at Placentia-Linda Hospital. "But there are also some risk factors that you can control, like eating a lot of fatty foods, smoking, drinking alcohol, not exercising and weighing too much."

Most colon polyps pose little danger to your health, but polyps that are large and numerous have a greater chance of developing into colorectal cancer. "If you notice symptoms like bleeding from the rectum, blood in the stool or change in bowel pattern, it's worth making an appointment with your doctor," says Keith Martin, MD, a gastroenterologist at Placentia-Linda.

Who Should Be Tested?
If you experience any of the symptoms of colon polyps, are age 50 or older or have a family history of polyps or colon cancer, your physician may recommend one or more screening tests. "Regular screening is one way to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer," Dr. Martin explains. "These tests allow us to find and even remove polyps that might otherwise become cancer."

Pat Surmeier, RN, director of PL's GI Center, and Marilyn Mandas, RN, GI Center.

An annual test such as the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) can detect traces of blood in the stool and may indicate whether further testing is warranted. Colonoscopy is recommended after age 50 for normal risk patients or 10 years before the youngest case of colon cancer in the immediate family. For example, if your father was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 55, you may want to talk to your doctor about screening beginning at age 45. Colonoscopy allows the doctor to see the entire colon by inserting a lighted tube that contains a tiny video camera into your colon. Polyps can be removed at that time in most cases, and it is the most sensitive way of evaluating for polyps.

In addition to regular screening, you may be able to lower your risk of developing colon polyps with a few lifestyle changes. "Scaling back on fatty foods and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help prevent polyps," Dr. McGuire says. "If you smoke, quit, and avoid alcohol. I also recommend exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight."

For more information about colon polyps, please call us at 1-800-554-7879 or visit our web site at www.placentialinda.com/gipartners. PL

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