Colon cancer tests a must-do 'chore'
By Dr. Landis Lum
"You know, Doc, there's a million things I'd rather be doing than be screened for colon cancer. Like doing the dishes, for example."
Cancers of the large intestine kill more people than breast cancer or prostate cancer do, but can be prevented if polyps (small lumps of tissue inside the colon) that can turn into cancer can be found and removed.
And those who have had screening tests say they'd be willing to have them again if they will save one additional day of their lives.
Seventy-five percent of colon cancers occur in people with no family history or other known risk factors.
So get screened regularly once you hit age 50, even if you feel perfectly fine — no pain, bowel problems or anything.
So what tests are there?
What's the best screening strategy?
Most experts advise getting hemoccult tests every year and flexible sigmoidoscopies every five years.
Or just do a colonoscopy alone every 10 years, though most insurance plans do not cover this.
The important point is to do something, rather than nothing.
Dr. Landis Lum is a family-practice physician for Kaiser Permanente and an associate clinical professor at the University of Hawai'i's John A. Burns School of Medicine. Send questions to islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com or Prescriptions, Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. This column is not intended to provide medical advice.
