Colorectal Cancer (Colonoscopy)

大多数人都熟悉作为诊断程序的结肠镜检查. But that doesn’t mean everyone knows 为什么 you should undergo this particular screening.

通常，结肠镜检查是为了发现结直肠癌的早期形成. Often, early symptoms of this disease are too easy to dismiss. But early detection is critical to successful treatment. 结肠镜检查是早期发现结直肠癌并在必要时进行挽救生命治疗的最佳方法.

What is Colorectal Cancer?

你的结肠, also known as your large intestine, 是你消化道的一部分，负责帮助你消化食物吗. 结肠直肠癌——通常简称结肠癌——是一种影响大肠的特殊生长类型.

Colon cancer usually begins as a small growth of polyps. 这些息肉可能看起来像肠壁上的小肿块. In the vast majority of cases, these polyps are harmless. Over time, however, some of these growths may become cancerous. That’s 为什么 polyps are usually removed when they are first detected.

结肠的生长有时会导致带血或大便变色. However, they most often present as symptomless. That’s 为什么 screening is critical. Colon cancer is, unfortunately, often detected at a very late stage. 因此，这种疾病获得了“沉默杀手”的不幸绰号.“随着结肠癌发病率的上升，有效的筛查比以往任何时候都更重要.

When Should You Get a Colonoscopy?

You can develop colorectal cancer at any age. 然而，随着年龄的增长，这种特殊的疾病变得越来越常见. 结果是, 大多数医生建议患者在45岁时开始筛查这种类型的癌症. 

在一般情况下, colorectal screenings follow these guidelines:

• Under age 45: 在一般情况下, 45岁以下的人不需要进行结直肠癌筛查，除非他们的健康状况, family history, or other individual factors warrant early screenings.
• 年龄在45 - 75: 你应该在45岁之前进行第一次常规结肠镜检查. 你应该继续接受定期检查，直到75岁.
• Ages 76-85: 年龄在76-85岁之间的患者应该与他们的医生讨论他们的结肠直肠筛查. Regular screenings may or may not be appropriate, depending on your preferences, life expectancy, and risk factors.
• Over age 85: 一般来说，对于85岁以上的人不再推荐结肠直肠筛查.

There are several different screening types. 你应该和你的医生谈谈结肠镜检查还是粪便检查(或两者都做)对你更好。. 

How Often Should You Undergo a Colonoscopy?

你推荐的结肠镜检查或其他结肠检查的频率通常取决于你的风险状况. If your initial colonoscopy shows no signs of cancer or growth, you may only need to get one every ten years. But if you have a higher risk profile or if polyps are detected, you may need to undergo screenings more often. Your doctor will be able to tell you how often.

Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer

As we age the risk of developing cancers increases. There are other factors that put you at risk of colorectal cancer:

• 炎症性肠病，如克罗恩病或溃疡性结肠炎.
• 个人或家族有结肠直肠癌或结肠息肉病史.
• 一种遗传综合征，如家族性腺瘤性息肉病(FAP)或遗传性非息肉性结直肠癌(Lynch综合征).

Lifestyle risk factors:

• Lack of regular physical activity.
• A diet low in fruit and vegetables.
• A low-fiber and high-fat diet, or a diet high in processed meats.
• Overweight and obesity.
• Alcohol consumption.
• 烟草的使用. 想要获得戒烟方面的帮助，可以咨询你的医生，或者联系SD戒烟热线，或者拨打1-866 SD- quits

与你的初级保健医生预约，讨论你患结肠直肠癌的风险以及哪种筛查方法适合你.

Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer

You may be at increased risk due to family or personal history. 每年去看你的医疗保健提供者做一次身体检查，并和他或她谈谈你可能有的任何健康问题，这一点很重要. 了解你的家族史，并确保它记录在你的病史中.

Tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:

• Blood in or on your stool (bowel movement).
• Stomach pain, aches or cramps that do not go away.
• Losing weight and you don’t know 为什么.

These symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, 但是要想知道是什么引起的，唯一的方法就是和你的医生谈谈.

Colorectal Cancer Screening

There are several options available to screen for colorectal cancer. The right one for you will depend on several factors. You and your doctor will decide which one is best for you.

• 凳子的测试
• Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)
• Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
• FIT-DNA test
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• CT colonography

Learn more about each test on the CDC’s website.

What Happens During a Colonoscopy?

最常见的结直肠筛查技术之一是结肠镜检查. 大多数患者都知道他们在某个时候需要进行结肠镜检查，但许多人对诊断过程中实际发生的事情有疑问.

Before your colonoscopy begins, you’ll likely be given a sedative. Some patients prefer general anesthesia for the screening. That’s something that you can discuss with your physician!

Once you are comfortably laying on your side, 你的医生会把一种叫做结肠镜的特殊装置插入你的直肠. 这是一根细而柔韧的管子，它的末端连着一个照相机. 然后你的医生会寻找刺激、生长或其他可能的问题的迹象.

在某些情况下，可以在结肠镜检查期间进行活检和组织切除.

How Do You Prepare for a Colonoscopy?

随着结肠镜检查日期的临近，你的医生可能会给你特别的指示. Those instructions may include the following: 

• You’ll be asked to avoid certain foods. 大多数病人被要求在预约前24小时内不要吃固体食物. You’ll also be asked to avoid drinking any liquids that aren’t clear. 

• Talk to your doctor about medication: Before your procedure, 你可能需要和你的医生谈谈你正在服用的药物，并在必要时做一些小的改变.
• Take a laxative: 许多医生会在结肠镜检查前给病人开大剂量的泻药. 这有助于确保你的结肠相对清晰，便于观察.

结肠镜检查是一个非常常规的程序，但你可能仍然对会发生什么有疑问. Be sure to talk to your doctor about any questions you may have.

The Bottom Line . . . Get Screened!

Providing our patients at Yankton Medical Clinic P.C. 诺福克我们为患者提供最新的结肠直肠护理技术和程序.

美国癌症协会将结直肠癌列为影响男性和女性的第二大癌症死亡原因. 任何癌症的早期发现都是成功治疗和生存率的关键. 定期进行结直肠癌筛查的推荐年龄最近已降至45岁. 

There are a variety of screening tools available, 拜访你的初级保健医生，看看哪种测试适合你.  如果您需要与初级保健提供者建立联系，请访问我们的查找提供者页面.

保险 & Medicare Coverage

大多数 insurance plans and Medicare 帮助支付45岁及以上人群的结直肠癌筛查费用. 结直肠癌筛查测试可能包括在你的健康保险政策中，没有免赔额或共同支付. If you have specific questions about covered benefits on your policy, 拨打你保险卡背面的客服电话. 欲了解更多关于医疗保险的信息，请访问医疗保险网站或致电1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).