Our Care
Why you should have your colon checked.
The colon is the portion of your digestive system where solid waste travels out of your body. Your colon is vital to your overall health. A colon that is ulcerated or cancerous may not be able to perform and may cause a chain reaction of other maladies. Colorectal cancer is a preventable disease. The right testing can save your life and the lives of the people you love.
Are you at risk for colon cancer?
Your odds of developing colorectal cancer increase with your age and depend on your medical and family history. It equally affects men and women. A person with no family history of cancer and no personal risk factors has a one in 17 chance of developing colorectal cancer in their lifetime.
Your risk increases if you have had colon polyps, breast cancer, ovarian cancer or prostate cancer or have ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Your risk increases by 50 percent if you have a distant family member with colon cancer or colon polyps. Your risk doubles if that relative is an immediate family member (parent, sibling or child). This explosion of risk potential occurs because the predisposition for developing colorectal cancer is genetically determined and can be inherited. Additionally, a diet low in fiber and high in fat further increases your risk.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least a third of deaths due to colorectal cancer could be prevented if people 50 years and older were screened regularly.
Symptoms of colon cancer you should look for:
• A change in bowel habits • Diarrhea or constipation • Frequent gas pains • Continuing fatigue • Blood in the stool (bright red, black or very dark) • Narrowed stools (about the thickness of a pencil) • Unexplained anemia • Bloating, fullness or abdominal cramps • Weight loss without dieting • A feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
Even without symptoms, a screening is important.
Polyps and the early stages of colorectal cancer, which is when it’s most curable, usually cause no symptoms. A screening offers you the best prevention – especially if your family history, medical history or age put you at risk. Early detection is the key to saving lives.
How Dr. Yu’s colonoscopy can save your life.
Medical experts agree that when it comes to screening for colorectal cancer, colonoscopy is the “gold standard.” This is a 30-minute outpatient procedure in which Dr. Yu checks the lining of the entire colon and rectum for growths using a long flexible tube with a tiny video camera at the tip that transmits images to a TV screen. Sedatives are administered for your comfort.
Colonoscopy detects over 98 percent of colorectal tumors whether or not they are bleeding. Stool tests for hidden blood detect only a tiny fraction of colorectal growths. Sigmoidoscopy examines only the lower portion of the colon, leaving two-thirds or more unchecked.
Any polyps detected during colonoscopy are immediately removed. Polyps are the benign or precancerous growths on the inside lining of the colon and rectum. Colorectal cancer begins in some polyps. The key to prevention of colorectal cancer is to remove all polyps before they transform into malignancy.
Dr. Yu also offers personalized, compassionate care for:
• Colorectal cancer • Gas, bloating & abdominal pain • Nausea & vomiting • Difficulty swallowing • Heartburn/reflux • Esophageal cancers • Ulcers • Constipation • Rectal bleeding • Bowel problems & diseases • Gallstones • Liver disorders • Hiatal hernias • Hemorrhoids • Diarrhea & constipation