Colonoscopy Prevents Colon Cancer by Removing Polyps, Which Affect About 20% of Adults
Updated
Updated · TODAY · Jul 17
Colonoscopy Prevents Colon Cancer by Removing Polyps, Which Affect About 20% of Adults
3 articles · Updated · TODAY · Jul 17
Summary
Dr. Trisha Pasricha said colonoscopy is the most effective gut health test because it can both detect cancer and prevent it by removing precancerous polyps during the procedure.
About 20% of adults have colon polyps, and most can turn cancerous if left untreated, making colonoscopy different from blood or stool tests that mainly detect existing disease.
U.S. guidelines recommend average-risk adults start colorectal cancer screening at 45 and continue to 75; for colonoscopy, that typically means one test every 10 years.
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., with deaths falling in people over 55 but rising in those under 55 for reasons still unclear.