Colon most cancers is the second main explanation for most cancers deaths in South Carolina, but docs say it is one of the crucial preventable.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Colon most cancers is the second main explanation for most cancers deaths in South Carolina.
March is colon most cancers consciousness month. One purpose of the initiative is to encourage individuals to get screened for colon most cancers as a result of it might save lives.
In South Carolina, USC’s Colorectal Cancer Prevention Network companions with docs to supply free screenings to eligible adults.
A type of docs is Gastroenterologist Dr. March Seabrook in West Columbia. Whereas footage from a colonoscopy, Seabrook identified what wholesome versus unhealthy lining seems to be like in a colon.
Seabrook instructed News19 that colon most cancers is a number one explanation for most cancers deaths, but it is one of the crucial preventable kinds. The important thing to prevention, Seabrook mentioned, is getting screened.
“Colon most cancers is now creating earlier, whether or not it is our life-style, issues we eat, issues we’re uncovered to, whether or not it is genetics, a few of that’s unknown. However we all know not less than demographically that we’re discovering extra cancers earlier,” defined Seabrook.
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Due to these earlier circumstances, docs suggest everybody get a colonoscopy at age 45 as an alternative of the earlier advice of fifty. If there’s household historical past of colon most cancers, it is really useful to get screened sooner.
“A superb, well-balanced food regimen, train, correct weight; all these issues are good by way of stopping colon most cancers. There’s nothing and there is definitely no higher check than a colonoscopy,” mentioned Seabrook.
Docs use colonoscopies to search for cancer-causing polyps, if discovered they’ll take away them.
The free colon most cancers screenings are provided at over 120 clinics throughout the state. The Community’s director, Annie Thibault, mentioned if somebody is uninsured and is at or under the 200% poverty line they qualify for this system. For a person, meaning making lower than $34,000 a yr.
“It’s supposed for sufferers who haven’t any signs as a result of usually colorectal most cancers is understood to be one of many cancers that reveals with out signs and that’s why screening is so necessary,” mentioned Thibault.
This system helps about 900 individuals get free screenings a yr.
“My father is a stage two colon most cancers survivor,” shared Thibault. Due to her household historical past, she received her first colonoscopy on the age of 32. “In my first screening I had tubular adenomas, that are adenomas which might be recognized to be a precursor to most cancers, and so they had been eliminated.”
Thibault believes if she didn’t get screened when she was youthful, she might’ve possible developed most cancers like her dad.
If somebody is hesitant to get a colonoscopy due to the required preparation and cleanse earlier than the process, Thibault had this to say to them:
“For having individuals in my household which have had most cancers, consuming the prep, which is commonly what most individuals are most terrified of and never wish to need to do, it’s nothing in comparison with having to undergo most cancers remedy.”
Thibault mentioned most free clinics and federally certified well being facilities are enrolled within the Community’s free program. She recommends individuals ask their docs about getting a screening, or name the Colorectal Most cancers Prevention Community at (803)777-1231. The Community will pair eligible sufferers with a care navigator that may work out one of the best clinic for them and whether or not they want a colonoscopy or at-home stool pattern.
