If you men and women are combined, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. It is also an early detection or prevention of cancer. Most colon of the cancers occur in men and women at 50 years of age or older. Therefore, screening for colon cancer for all are suggested at the age of 50.

In the early stages of the disease, many people who have colon cancer have no symptoms. Once symptoms appear, they will probably differ based on the size and location of the cancer in your intestine.

Causes

Physicians aren't sure what causes most colon cancers. Colon cancer generally starts when healthy colon cells undergo changes in their DNA. A DNA in a cell includes a set of instructions telling a cell what to do. Healthy cells expand and divide in an orderly manner to preserve their normal functioning. But if the DNA of a cell is damaged and cancerous, the cells continue to grow, even if new cells are not required. As the cells build up, they build up a tumor. Over time, cancer cells will invade and destroy normal tissue in the vicinity. And cancer cells spread to other body parts to make deposits (metastasis).

What Happens During the Colon Cancer Screening?

Screening is how we look for cancer or pre-cancer in people without disease symptoms. Regular test can often help avoid colon cancer, it helps to identify and remove polyps before they become cancerous. When detected at an early stage, the overall survival rate for five years is about 90% before it spreads. But at this early stage less than half of colorectal cancers are identified.

Colonoscopy or Stool Test

Most of the colon cancer examinations are conducted with either a colonoscopy screening or stool test. A doctor must take all the choices into account and prescribe the correct examination. Some people have at home stool tests as an attractive option because they are privately owned and there is no special diet to prepare. This is beneficial for patients who have qualified them to stop being screened for fear of a more invasive examination.

No Family History

Many people who get colon cancer have no history of the disease in their families. But if you have a grandparent, aunt, brother, sister or kid with colon cancer, then you may be more likely to get colon cancer. Those with a family history should be screened before 50 years of age. Make sure you let your doctor know if somebody in your family has a history of colon or colon polyps. Come to Digestive Disease Specialists for your colon cancer screening in OKC.

**Disclaimer: This blog content does not offer a doctor's advice and creates no relationship between any patient and care provider.