Digestive Health Specialists, located in Winston-Salem NC, will provide free screening colonoscopies to 50 people impacted by the economic turndown. Patients who are over 50, have not been screened, and have lost jobs and health insurance are eligible to apply.
Colonoscopies will be performed in Digestive Health Specialist facilities in Winstom-Salem, Kernersville, and Thomasville on March 14, 2009. The program is part of March Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Read the rest of this entry »
One of the discussions at GI Symposium was whether virtual colonoscopy is ready for prime time. What is that? Well, it is a CT scan which evaluates the colon for polyps and other changes instead of using a scope to enter the colon and look directly.
It is often misunderstood that the preparation for these two procedures are different. They are not. You need a clean colon whether you get a CT colonoscopy or a real one. Read the rest of this entry »
Colorectal cancer develops with few, if any, symptoms at first.
It depends a little on the location of the colon cancer. If the cancer is closer to the anus (left side), symptoms may include blood in or on the stool, a change in bowel habits, stools that are narrower than usual and general weakness and weight loss. These symptoms are more typical for colon cancer and physicians would easily recommend a colonoscopy for further work up. However if the tumor is on the right side, almost a foot away from the anus, the symptoms may be more general such as unexplained stomach discomfort, frequent gas, pains, or indigestion, unexplained weight loss and chronic fatigue.
Image from AGA Institute
It’s important to have standards for quality colonoscopy and to be sure that quality measures are included in doctors’ reports after each procedure.
In light of the recently published study showing colonoscopy impact on deaths from colorectal cancer, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) points out the value of documenting and reporting key indicators for a quality colonoscopy after every procedure. Read the rest of this entry »
Even if the reduction in deaths from colorectal cancer proves to be lower than previously expected, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) says that quality colonoscopy is still the best strategy for the detection of polyps and cancer. Read the rest of this entry »
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