H E A LT H
Make It Happen:
GET SCREENED FOR COLORECTAL CANCER Story by ANITA HARRISON COLORECTAL CANCER IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF CANCER-RELATED DEATH IN THE U.S.
But it doesn't have to be. “Colorectal cancer screening saves lives,” said Lake Regional Gastroenterologist Donald Thompson, M.D. “There are multiple screening tests available, each with its own pros and cons.” TYPES OF SCREENING TESTS
Stool-based tests look at your stool for possible signs of polyps—growths that sometimes turn cancerous—or
STOC K P HO TOS
Lake Regional Gastroenterologist Donald Thompson, M.D.
Screenings for colorectal cancer come in two main groups: • Stool-based tests • Visual exams
for colorectal cancer itself. You collect samples of your stool to send to a lab for analysis. These tests don't require the kind of colon preparation needed for a colonoscopy. But you need to do them more often—sometimes every year. A traditional colonoscopy is a visual exam. To prepare, you drink a mix of laxatives to clean out your colon. You’re sedated during the exam, and a scope is inserted into your rectum and moved through your colon. A doctor uses a camera on the end of the scope to look for precancerous polyps or signs of cancer. A major advantage of a colonoscopy: A doctor can remove any polyps discovered during this exam. Any abnormalities found on stool-
42 lakenewsonline.com
