Colonoscopy - Colon Cancer Screening

Dr. Jon LaPook, a gastroenterologist, is of the view that colonoscopy is a life saving means as it aids the detection and prevention of colon cancer. Patients should not feel afraid or embarrassed to take it up. Dr. LaPook and Dr. Oz with the CBS Evening News, as medical correspondent emphasize the importance of colonoscopies in battling colon cancer and clarify common misapprehension about colon cancer.

Dr. LaPook considers a colonoscopy to be a “gold standard” when it comes to colon cancer screening. He suggests that people with a good health condition and with no family history of colon cancer should have their first screening on reaching 50 years of age. They should then follow up by undergoing additional screenings after every 10 years. He is of the opinion that if a person’s physician concludes that they are susceptible to developing colon cancer must undergo colonoscopy as early as possible and should repeat this exam more frequently.

However, Dr. LaPook cautions against the common misconception that people have such as colon cancer affects only the elderly, men, or persons with a family history of colon cancer. In reality, he informs that women too are affected by colon cancer. Also, almost 70 percent of the people diagnosed with colon cancer do not have it in their family history and at least 10 percent of people diagnosed with colon cancer are below 50 years.

Furthermore, according to Dr. LaPook it is dangerous to assume that a person can detect colon cancer on his own. Polyps, which could result in colon cancer, usually never cause any of the symptoms until the cancer has reached an advanced state. According to Dr. LaPook every person has an opportunity to access good health when people could be totally asymptomatic and weed out the polyps.