Colonoscopy
with Ibrahim Razzak, MD
At what age should you get screened?
“A combination of misconception and apprehension often keeps people from getting a colonoscopy and that is what we are trying to overcome. We want to get as many people as possible screened to prevent this very common cancer,” says Ibrahim Razzak, MD, Division Head of Gastroenterology at GBMC.
Colorectal cancer refers to cancer of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. Symptoms include a change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding or bloody stools, persistent abdominal discomfort or pain and unexplained weight loss. Risk factors for the disease include family history, inflammatory bowel disease, colon polyps, high-fat diet, smoking and heavy use of alcohol.
According to Dr. Razzak, risk factors determine when a person should get his or her first screening. “In general, the average individual without significant family history should have their first colonoscopy at age 50,” he says. “If someone has a family history of colorectal cancer, they should begin screening about 10 years earlier than when the family member developed the cancer.” Colonoscopy is recommended once every 10 years for an average person and every three to five years for those with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. For certain inherited syndromes, colonoscopy may start at a much younger age.
During the procedure, the colonoscope, a slender and flexible fiber optic tube, is used to view a patient’s entire colon and rectum. A physician is able to search for and remove polyps, which are pre-cancerous tumors that can sometimes become malignant if left unresected.
On average, the screening takes 15 minutes and patients are able to go home the same day. “With the newer types of sedation, improved preparation and new generation scopes, this is the best way to examine the colon,” says Dr. Razzak. Other methods of colorectal cancer screening include a digital rectal exam, sigmoidoscopy, x-ray using a barium enema or a CT scan with a virtual colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy is the gold standard for detecting colorectal cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. At GBMC, physicians utilize the latest technology to obtain the best results. Currently, the hospital is using a new method of sedation for colonoscopy procedures to ensure patient comfort. “The patient is very comfortable during the procedure and the recovery is quick,” says Dr. Razzak. “The new sedation really makes a difference.”
In addition to new forms of sedation, the preparation process for the procedure has significantly improved and is typically done at the patient’s home the night before. Colonoscopies used for screening and appropriate follow-up are covered by major insurance plans and Medicare.
Dr. Razzak urges people to consider a colon cancer screening because it can save lives. “For this cancer, we know where to look and how to look,” he says. “The survival rate is more than 90 percent when colorectal cancer is detected early, before it spreads.”
