OUR VERY OWN DR. MARC A. FIORILLO of ADVANCED GASTROENTEROLOGY OF BERGEN COUNTY, P.A., WILL BE APPEARING ON NEWS CHANNEL 12 THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 24TH, AT 6:30 am, 9:00 am, 12 Noon, 1:30 pm, and 4:30 pm TO DISCUSS COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AND THE BENEFITS OF SCREENING COLONOSCOPY.

It is advised that everyone over the age of 50 undergo colonoscopy screenings to check for polyps, which are abnormal growths that can be the precursors to cancer. People should get screened sooner if they are African American or have a personal or family history of colon cancer.

Anyone with potential symptoms of colon cancer, regardless of age, should have an evaluation. Examples of these symptoms are unintentional weight loss, change in bowel habits (persistent diarrhea or constipation), rectal bleeding, abdominal discomfort, changes in stool color (black stool) or stool caliber (pencil-thin stools), or unexplained anemia (low blood count).

According to a study published recently in the Archives of Internal Medicine, while rates of colon and rectal cancers have steadily declined during the last decade among patients 50 years and older, rates in younger adults (under age 50) rose by as much as two percent per year.

Colonoscopy is a diagnostic medical procedure designed to screen for colorectal cancer. Few people look forward to having a colonoscopy, but it can save your life and protect you from getting colon cancer. Cancer of the colon and rectum is highly preventable, provided that its precursors, polyps, are detected and removed early.

Colonoscopies are performed under sedation administered by an anesthesiologist in an outpatient setting. During the procedure, the doctor inserts a flexible tube with a camera through the anus and examines the interior of the colon (large intestine). The exam typically takes 15-20 minutes to complete. The primary goal of a colonoscopy is to find polyps, which, if left alone, can grow into cancer. If a polyp is found during a colonoscopy, the doctor removes it immediately. If a potential cancer is identified, the doctor can remove a portion of the tissue (biopsy) for confirmation. Any polyp removed or biopsy taken is sent to a pathology lab for further analysis. Follow-up treatment is determined by these results.

Prior to a colonoscopy, usually the day before, the patient will be on a clear liquid diet and take a laxative in order to clean their bowels. Many people find this to be the most challenging part of the exam – more so than the colonoscopy itself! Preparation is a very important part of a colonoscopy and is not as tough as most people make it out to be.

If a patient is not properly prepped, the doctor may miss small polyps and potentially need to repeat the procedure, requiring the patient to repeat the preparation as well. The good news is that the preparation is not as difficult as it used to be. We use a smaller volume of liquid and better tasting laxatives than we have in the past.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email us with any questions you may have.

I believe that patient education and open communication with your doctor are the keys to achieving healthy, fully functional results and patient satisfaction, which is why I strive to provide the highest quality of gastroenterology care for patients of all ages.  This is done by combining technical skill and broad experience with cutting-edge technology for impeccable medical results.

I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to visit my new blog.  Please check back often to learn about the latest news, updates and additions to the practice and within the field of gastroenterology, and feel free to post comments and/or suggestions on any posts that you find of interest.