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ANOKA, Minnesota – Few words can make people as nervous as "colonoscopy".
"It's the fear of the unknown because you do not know what you're going to find until we proceed with the procedure," said Dr. Gregory Weber, gastroenterologist.
But it's one of those things you can not ignore, and being proactive could save your life.
"Most of the time, we have no signs or symptoms of colon cancer until we get tested," Dr. Weber said. "That's why screening is so important."
This brings us back to colonoscopy. There are many methods for detecting colon cancer, but the best, according to Dr. Weber, is a colonoscopy.
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"That's where we take a camera and look at the whole length of the colon, looking for polyps or even cancer," he said. "That's what's really cool with colonoscopy: it does both, it detects and prevents colon cancer."
What are the things to look for that should prompt a visit to the doctors office?
"New abdominal pain, bleeding in or around stools, changes in your typical bowel habits," Dr. Weber said.
It is not only men who should be examined.
"If you have a colon, you risk getting colon cancer," Dr. Weber said.
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. It will be diagnosed in 1 in 22 men and 1 in 24 women.
Screening should start at age 50. If you are African-American, it should start at age 45 and if there is a family history of the disease, it should start at 40.
According to Dr. Weber, this is not as scary as many people think.
"Most people say that colonoscopy is a kid's game," he said. "We give you drugs to make you sleepy for the test and most of the time, people do not remember what happens during the procedure as they sleep."
Dr. Weber says that lifestyle factors can contribute to colorectal cancer. These include being obese, smoking, eating large amounts of red or processed meat and drinking large amounts of alcohol.
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