If you think a colonoscopy is a medical test reserved exclusively for older people, Tennova Healthcare suggests you may want to take a closer look at recent news from the American Cancer Society (ACS).

  “Earlier this year, the ACS changed its recommendation on the timing of first-time colon cancer screenings,” said (PHOTO ABOVE) Michael R. Ellis, M.D., a gastroenterologist with Tennova Gastroenterology – North. “They lowered the target age for those at average risk of cancer from 50 to 45. This change was directly tied to the rising number of younger adults being diagnosed with colorectal cancers—including many with no family history of the disease.”

Colon cancer is the third most common form of cancer in the United States. This year, 90,000 new cases of colon cancer, and 40,000 cases of rectal cancer, are expected to be diagnosed. For the East Tennessee region, the National Cancer Institute reports that an average of more than 600 people were diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer each year between 2011 and 2015.

“The changing data on colon cancer provides both good news and bad news,” Dr. Ellis said. “While mortality rates from colon cancer have been declining over the past 30 years, the number of new diagnoses is actually increasing. We are doing a better job of screening for and removing polyps before they become cancerous, but lifestyle and diet choices are driving up the risk and incidence of these cancers in general.”

In addition to the change in screening age, the ACS also issued some guidance on screening methods that patients and their doctors might consider. If a colonoscopy is not currently recommended, or there are financial or other barriers to the procedure, talk with your physician about one of these less-invasive screening methods:

  • Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) – stool-based test, once per year
  • Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) – stool-based test, once per year
  • Multi-targeted stool DNA test (MT-sDNA) – stool-based test, once every 3 years
  • CT colonography – “virtual colonoscopy,” once every 5 years
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy (FSIG) – once every 5 years

“Colonoscopy remains the gold standard, but there are several diagnostic tools that can screen for the presence of blood or polyps in the colon,” Dr. Ellis said. “However, patients should be aware that an abnormal result in any of these tests must be followed by a full colonoscopy to mitigate the increased risk of cancer and to promptly remove any polyps. This fact should be considered by both the patient and the physician before any of these lesser screening methods is employed.”

According to Dr. Ellis, the new ACS guidance includes very specific precautions for those at increased risk of colon cancer. For these individuals, the physician may advise initial screening before age 45; being screened more often; and/or using specific screening methods to ensure polyps are found and removed before they can become cancerous. The increased colon cancer risk factors include:

  • A personal or family history of colorectal cancer, or of certain types of polyps
  • A personal history of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
  • A history of radiation to the abdomen or pelvis for treatment of a previous cancer
  • A genetic and hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome

“While it is one of the most common forms of cancer, colon cancer is also highly preventable and treatable,” Dr. Ellis said. “Healthy diet and lifestyle choices—combined with proactive screening and prompt removal of any polyps—can dramatically reduce the risk of contracting the disease. Never ignore changes of any kind in your bowel habits—and be prepared to share details with your physician about frequency, consistency and any type of discomfort or dysfunction.

Tennova Gastroenterology offers digestive health services at two convenient locations. At North Knoxville Medical Center, Dr. Ellis is joined by Sirisha Jasti, M.D., and Chad Pottieger, D.O.; Christopher Kulisek, M.D., sees patients at Turkey Creek Medical Center.

For more information or to find a doctor, call 1-855-TENNOVA (836-6682) or visit TennovaMedicalGroup.com. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 11/30/2018-6AM)

Related