Stay Ahead of Colon Cancer

Did you know only 64.3 percent of Georgians who are 50 years old or older have been screened for colorectal cancer? That’s according to the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which surveyed 400,000 adults across the country.

Sadly, colorectal cancer is the secondleading cause of cancer deaths in Georgia and the U.S., according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. And it’s one disease where screening — through colonoscopy exams — can make a huge difference, the experts say.

Dr. Alan Fixelle with Gastroenterology Consultants in Sandy Springs has personally undergone four colonoscopy exams. “My paternal grandmother died from colon cancer at the age of 54,” he said.

“I practice what I preach.

Colonoscopy exams are really quite simple and safe.”

Colon cancer mortality is profoundly impacted by periodic screening exams, Fixelle tells his patients. “My feeling is that when patients make the effort to comply with screening examinations and complete the bowel prep, that the physician should take the time to inspect all of the ‘nooks and crannies’ within the colon,” he said.

In fact, when colorectal cancer is diagnosed at the localized stage, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent and many people live much longer than five

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• Serving Buckhead community for over 30 years

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• Apartments tailored to personal needs years. For this reason, promoting colorectal cancer screening is a major priority for the American Cancer Society.

“Screening can reduce death rates by preventing the disease through the detection and removal of polyps and also by detecting invasive colorectal cancer at earlier, more treatable stages,” says Kelly Durden, health systems manager for Atlanta Cancer Society.

According to Durden, the lives of 468 Georgians per year could be saved — more than one per day — if the percentage being tested can increase from 64.3 to 80 percent. It’s a goal worth striving for.

Although March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, don’t wait until then to make your appointment. The sooner you’re tested, the better, as colon cancer can be highly preventable if caught early.

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Residents must be 62 years of age or older. Some units have special features for mobility and sensory impaired persons. Income limitations are determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Residents pay 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent. Gross income must not exceed $26,200.00 for one person and $29,950.00 for two persons.

Screening Tests

Screening for colorectal cancer is the process of looking for cancer in people who have no symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And according to WebMD, the “visual colonoscopy” is still the gold standard for many physicians.

However, stool-based tests are generally well received by patients. While these tests are less invasive than the traditional colonoscopy, they do require more frequent checks.

In 2014, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved a “do-ityourself” kit like Cologuard. Most user reports are positive, but since they’re relatively new, many people have questions about the test kits.

It’s the first stool-based colorectal screening test that detects the presence of red blood cells and DNA mutations. And it can identify the presence of certain kinds of abnormal growths, which may be cancerous or indicate potential cancer growths.

“Cologuard, like other screening methods, can give incorrect results ... a colonoscopy, however, can miss polyps, but the odds are very low,” says WebMD’s website.

The “do-it-yourself” kit is used for general screening adults of either sex, 50 years or older, who are at average risk for colorectal cancer. Cologuard states that the test is “not for everyone” and is “not a replacement for diagnostic colonoscopy or surveillance colonoscopy in high-risk individuals.”

According to a 2018 Cologuard website, more than a million patients have already used their product for screening. The results are sent to your healthcare provider for follow-up care.

Visual Examinations

These visual tests look at the structure of the colon and rectum for any areas that appear abnormal. This is done either with a scope (a tube-like instrument with a light and tiny video camera on the end) put into the rectum, or with special imaging (x-ray) tests. Patients are kept comfortable by an anesthesiologist.

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The assisted living services at The Piedmont at Buckhead Senior Living Community are about the whole family and the whole YOU. Of course, we can help you with your daily needs. But did you know you will also have options for fitness, socializing, healthy fine dining, and more? And services are tailored to you, so you’ll get just the right amount of help you need, when you request it.

But the best part? No matter if you need a little help or a lot, the difference you’ll feel will be amazing. Please call The Piedmont at Buckhead to schedule your complimentary lunch and tour.