Bowel Cancer Screening

Roughly 30% of middle-aged and older Americans have one or more polyps on the surface of the colon, which are relatively harmless but may become cancerous over time. While anyone can develop a polyp, some people are at higher risk of turning up with one during a bowel cancer screening, such as those over 50, smokers, overweight individuals, people on a high-fat/low-fiber diet, or those with family histories of colon cancer. Some early colon cancer symptoms include rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and a change in bowel movements, but these are rarely found until it’s too late, which underscores the importance of early screening.

One of the primary things doctors look for in a bowel cancer screening is the presence of colon polyps. A polyp is an unusual growth on the surface of the colon, also called the large intestine. Some polyps appear bulbous, yellow and round, while others are red and yellow and recessed into the wall like a scab. Usually, these polyps are non-cancerous and benign, but sometimes they turn into cancer. As a precautionary method, pathologists will remove and examine these growths for evidence of metastatic colon cancer.

Polyps are usually removed during bowel cancer screening, with a colonoscopy procedure or sigmoidoscopy. Using a wire loop, the doctor can cut the stalk of the polyp and cauterize it to prevent bleeding all in one fell swoop. In some cases, doctors will cauterize or burn the small polyps with an electrical current. Larger polyps can be wrangled through laparoscopic surgery. Through several tiny incisions in the abdomen, the surgeon will place a small camera and precise instruments to remove the polyps carefully. Research from 1989 to 1999 suggests that as many as a third of Americans who have polyps removed will have a recurrence within the next two to five years.

There is no sure-fire way to prevent polyps from turning up during a routine bowel cancer screening, but certain choices seem to limit the risk. Eating lots of vegetables (like broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, carrots, beets, onions, potatoes, beans and peas), fruits (like strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and apricots), calcium (milk, cheese, yogurt), whole grains and fiber is crucial. People worried about developing colorectal cancer or about colon cancer recurrence should avoid smoking and alcohol, exercise most days of the week for at least 30 minutes, as well as avoid fatty foods and red meat. Some research suggests taking a low dose of aspirin every day may help in colon cancer prevention too.

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