20/10/2020
COLON CANCER SCREENING OVERVIEW
Colorectal cancer develops in the large intestine (colon) or re**um. The primary goal of colon cancer screening is to prevent deaths from colon cancer. Screening tests can help identify cancers at an early and potentially curable stage. Screening can also prevent the development of cancer by identifying and treating precancerous abnormal growths that can be removed before they become malignant.
Adults should undergo colon cancer screening beginning at age 40 or earlier, depending upon their risk of developing colorectal cancer, like a family history of colon cancer. Regular screening for and removal of polyps reduces your risk of developing colorectal cancer (by up to 90 percent with colonoscopy). Because this sort of cancer is painless and can exist and grow undetected, few people have themselves examined, until it’s possibly too late. Treat this screening as an investigatory precaution. If nothing is detected, the procedure only need be repeated after 10 years. Early detection of cancers that are already present in the colon increases the chance of successful treatment and decreases the chance of dying as a result of the cancer.
COVID 19 RELATED INFORMATION
COVID-19 may pass but this real and age old risk of colon cancer is not going to go away. During this pandemic we will still be ready to help patients. At my endoscopy clinic, which is not in town, not even a hospital, but situated on a plot and away from people, we will be able to protect not only ourselves but also the patients from the risk of contracting the virus.
Protective measures in place include the wearing of masks and gloves by staff members (only three of us) and patients. No hugging or handshaking but proper social distancing and hand sterilization. No patient with a fever or not feeling well will be allowed in the clinic. No CIVID test is required. Only the patient and no relatives or escorts will be allowed in the clinic. Relatives and escorts may wait in their vehicles until the examination is finished. All equipment used are sterilized and can therefore not transmit the virus. Clean linen for every patient.
This makes my clinic possibly one of the safest places to have these examinations done during this terrible pandemic which will be with us for some time to come. My plea with everyone is not to neglect your own health during these challenging times.
Anyone who would like to know more about colon cancer or colonoscopies can contact Dr. Rautenbach and his team at 081 357 7794.
