By Dr.Kathy Johnson, PhD, CMC
Colorectal cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer related deaths in the United States besides lung cancer. Tests used to screen for the cancer have been estimated to have saved at least 70,000 people in the past 20 years.
There have been recent debates regarding which type of screening method is best. The sigmoidoscopy is one test used for the detection of colorectal cancer, but it has not been used as much over the past ten years because it only goes two feet inside the colon whereas a colonoscopy is more thorough and goes through the entire colon. Recent findings suggest that there is no conclusive evidence as to whether or not one test is more effective than the other.
Research is still being conducted to determine which test is the most through and effective, but all doctors agree that either one is better than no test at all. So if you are over 50 and due for a colonoscopy, it is important to get one scheduled.
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Early symptoms of colon cancer are changes in your bowel habits, rectal bleeding, cramps, gas, weakness or fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. This can likely differ from one person to another depending upon the cancer size and its location in the large intestine of the patient.