A little over 14 years ago, President Clinton officially dedicated March as National Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Since then, millions of colon cancer survivors, advocates, doctors, and patients have taken the opportunity to spread awareness and information regarding the disease. Despite their best intentions, however, many myths and untruths regarding colon cancer continue to exist. Proper knowledge and understanding of colon cancer is one of the best ways to fight the disease, which is why the colorectal specialists at the Colonoscopy Center of Excellence have compiled a list of the five most common myths about colon cancer.
The experts at the Colonoscopy Center of Excellence specialize in performing colonoscopies and other colon cancer prevention techniques. To schedule a consultation, please contact us today!
5 Common Colon Cancer Myths
1. Only men are at risk for colon cancer
Colon cancer is a disease that does not discriminate. Women as well as men are at risk for developing colon cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths when both genders are combined. Fortunately, over the past 20 years, the number of colon-cancer related deaths has been steadily dropping. What can account for this change? For one thing, colon cancer screening methods are more effective than ever before, and doctors are able to identify and remove polyps before they can become too dangerous. Colon cancer screening is more important than ever, no matter your gender! To schedule a cancer screening, please contact the Colonoscopy Center of Excellence today!
2. A polyp means you have cancer
For the most part, polyps are benign growths that have the potential to become cancerous if left untreated. The purpose of a colonoscopy is to find and remove polyps as a means to prevent the possibility of cancer developing. The mere discovery of a polyp does not mean that a patient has cancer. In fact, it’s a good thing to discover polyps before they become dangerous!
3. You don’t need to get screened if you’re younger than 50
While it’s true that many colorectal experts suggest that patients should be screened for colon cancer once they become 50, there are certain individuals who should be screened at an earlier age. African Americans, for instance, have a higher risk of developing colon cancer than most other individuals. For African Americans, most colon cancer experts suggest a screening at the age of 45 as opposed to 50. In addition, if you have a family history of colon cancer, it’s important to be screened early, as you may be at a greater risk of developing the disease than others.
4. A colonoscopy hurts
Many individuals fear that a colonoscopy will hurt or otherwise be uncomfortable, but this cannot be further from the truth. During a colonoscopy screening, patients are sedated, which means they will not feel the tube as it advances through the colon. Often, the thought of a colonoscopy is more frightful than the procedure itself!
5. People rarely survive colon cancer
Even though colon cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, it is certainly not an unconquerable disease. In a lot of cases, colon cancer is treatable when detected early enough. In fact, when colon cancer is caught at an early stage, patients experience a 95% survival rate. It cannot be overstated how important colon cancer screenings are. Why take chances with your health? Get screened for colon cancer today!
Contact a Colonoscopy Specialist in Los Angeles Today!
The Colonoscopy Center of Excellence is home to some of the best colonoscopy doctors in Los Angeles. What better way to celebrate Colon Cancer Awareness month than by getting screening for colon cancer? To schedule a colonoscopy appointment with one of our experts, please call 888.837.0459 today!
Next, read What’s Scarier Than a Colonoscopy?