Colonoscopy prevents cancer?

Question

A recent news article in our local paper quoted a health professional as saying having a C-scopy at age 50 can prevent the development of cancer. Is this right?

Answer 1

Colonoscopy does not in itself prevent cancer. Sometimes polyps and other "pre-cancerous" lesions are detected during a colonoscopy, and these are generally removed during the procedure. In this manner, the colonoscopy can certainly provide benefit of early detection and even possible removal of pre-cancerous material, but to make a flat statement that having a colonoscopy will prevent cancer is false.

Answer 2

They go in, look around and if they see any polyps then they remove them. Polyps can turn into cancer after about 5-10 years. If you have them removed then you should be ok but there is no guarantee. The Dr's can always miss something and you can still get cancer. Better to check than to not check. I went for the colonoscopy and let me tell you, the scope is not the bad part; the bad part is drinking the sodium to clean you out. You can't be away from the bathroom at all for 24 hrs and you feel wiped out after. Can't eat the whole time or sleep really. I have to say I felt very relieved when they didn't find anything. My brother was going through chemo for colon cancer when I went for the test and my mother died from colon cancer. I would go and get checked before age 50. I am 47.

Answer 3

During a regular colonoscopy, a device called a colonoscope is inserted into the colon. This flexible tool is equipped with a fiberoptic light and a tiny video camera. The image from the camera is projected on a screen for large-scale viewing. However, the camera only provides a view in the direction it is facing . If there is a fold of tissue, the camera may not see the back side of the fold. The third eye is an additional camera that is inserted through the channel in the colonoscope. It extends out through the end of the scope and rotates 180 degrees to point its lens backward. This means there is now a front and back view of any tissue fold. There is no longer any place for polyps to hide. With the additional visibility provided by this “retroscope”, Dr. Berookim can easily see and remove suspicious polyps to ensure that you remain safe from colon cancer.

Answer 4

If you have a pre-cancerous polyp they can remove it before it becomes cancerous. Just having it ( the colonoscopy) doesn't prevent the cancer it is what they might find and it's removal. By the way spell check doesn't list "colonoscopy",there is colonist and other words but not "colonoscopy".

Answer 5

it only prevents cancer if during a colonoscopy, the doc finds polyps and removes them (some can turn into cancer). Colonoscopy in and of itself is just a test, it prevents nothing.

Answer 6

you may attempt those the thank you to decrease your possibility of colon maximum cancers. Get Your on an regularly occurring basis Dose of nutrition D keep away from meals That comprise Sodium Nitrate safeguard a healthful Weight/Lose extra weight Use a Colon cleansing supplement shrink Alcoholic intake consume a nutrition habitual severe in culmination, vegetables and finished Grains do no longer Smoke Drink Milk

Answer 7

Colonoscopies can lead to early detection, and therefore more easily treated cancer. I don't think that the procedure itself will prevent anything.

Answer 8

Colonoscopies don't prevent the development of cancer - but they do catch it earlier than if you hadn't done the test.

Answer 9

According to Katie Couric it can.. She said if her deceased husband had a colonoscopy he would be alive today... I am over 50 and I went to get one but its $2,000 and my insurance would not pay it. Pre screening is always wise because there are so many people getting colon cancer

Answer 10

It DETECTS cancer while it's still small enough to get it - so if detected then you can have it removed, which prevents it getting away from you, but the procedure itself is only a detection. That said, they can clip out polyps at the same time.