Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women in the United States — but prevention or early detection is key to increased survival rate. You can take simple steps to prevent (and detect) colon cancer.

It could save your life.

Pay attention to what your body is telling you.

We all have aches and pains, and they’re there for a reason: Your body is giving you warning signs that something isn’t quite right. Whether it’s a change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, or intermittent or persistent abdominal pain/bloating, these are signs that you may need to see a gastrointestinal doctor.

Your doctor can determine the cause of the symptoms that could signify colon cancer — and work to prevent and treat it.

Get screened.

Colon cancer can be prevented with screenings like a colonoscopy. The point of these screenings is to detect polyps or growths in the colon that could potentially turn into cancer. Through the colonoscopy screening, these potentially serious growths can be removed before they have a chance to become cancerous.

The American Cancer Society recommends that EVERYONE be screened for colon cancer with a colonoscopy by age 45 — or sooner, if your health care provider, risk factors or symptoms indicate a need.

Know your risk factors.

While cancer can develop without any prior indications, there are factors that can increase your risk of developing colon cancer. Being aware of those risk factors means you can detect colon cancer in its earliest stages, for the best survival rate — or prevent it altogether.

Know your:

• Family history. Know if your direct blood relatives (parents, siblings, children) or multiple second-degree relatives (grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins) have had colon cancer OR precancerous polyps, or other hereditary cancer syndromes.
• Personal history. If you had pre-cancerous polyps in the past, or other health conditions (Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease), your risk for colon cancer can also be increased.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle.

As with many health conditions, how you take care of your body plays a large part in how your body treats you. The same can be said for colon cancer prevention. The diet we consume can help keep our GI tract healthy and the exercise we partake in works on keeping our bodies healthy and reducing our cancer risk.

Such as:

• Less red meat and processed meats
• More fruits, vegetables and whole grains
• Regular physical activity (as permitted by your doctor)
• Not smoking

Prevent Colon Cancer Now

Call Gastrointestinal Specialists P.C. in Troy, Michigan to prevent and detect colon cancer. Request an appointment online so our team can help you save time and money with your colonoscopy screening today.

Everyone endures some stomach pain or trouble once in a while — but how do you know if it’s something that will pass, or if you should bring your concerns to a gastrointestinal specialist? Recurring pain is a telltale sign of something amiss…and sudden pain is a warning sign, too. So, don’t ignore your body telling you when things are wrong!

See a gastrointestinal doctor if:

1. Your abdomen hurts

Whether it’s a sudden, intense pain or gradual pain, upper and lower abdominal pain can signify a myriad of ailments, so it’s best to check with your GI doctor to determine the cause before things potentially get worse. Anything from appendicitis to colon cancer to inflammatory bowel disease can all present with abdominal pain.

2. Your bowel movements change

You may think it’s because of something you ate — and you may be right. But a change in bowel movements can signify a larger problem that needs to be treated. Any signs of bloody stool, diarrhea, gas, bloat, and constipation can be symptoms of your intestinal system having problems — and we can help determine why.

3. You have a family history or risk factors for colon cancer (or are 45+)

It’s there in the back of your mind, so let’s get a jump on taking preventive measures to screen you for colon cancer: Including scheduling your colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a virtually painless 30-minute procedure to look at your colon and see any potential growth, abnormalities or concerns — including pre-cancerous polyps, which can later be removed. Colon cancer is highly preventable, and regular colonoscopies can reduce the risk.

4. You have consistent heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD (Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease)

It’s just because you ate something spicy, or sour, or something, you tell yourself. But, really — WHY is your body reacting that way? It’s not normal, so your body is trying to tell you that something is wrong. GERD and that constant burning sensation you feel can damage your esophagus…which can eventually lead to difficulty swallowing.

5. You suspect lactose intolerance, gluten sensitivity, or Celiac disease

We all know that what we eat (or don’t eat) can impact our health and how we feel. Sometimes, our bodies can’t process things like lactose or gluten — which are in many foods (and even medicines and lip balm). And it’s difficult to conclusively determine that on our own without some testing to find out exactly what the issue is. In addition, Celiac disease can lead to malnutrition, and cause symptoms like seizures, infertility and more.

“As gastrointestinal specialists, we know that many of the symptoms our patients have are indicative of a treatable issue,” said Dr. Gehad Ghaith at Gastrointestinal Specialists, P.C. in Troy Michigan. “There is no need to suffer in silence. We can help and you can live a happy, healthy life!”

Schedule now with Gastrointestinal Specialists, PC and Endoscopy Center

We’re ready to determine what’s wrong and help you feel better. You can request an appointment at Gastrointestinal Specialists, PC and Endoscopy Center today!

Say everything is moving along just fine in your digestive tract. No pain, no complaints, no issues.

That’s great!

But you still need to start getting regular screening colonoscopies by the time you are 45 years old (or sooner, if needed).

Why? Think of it like a regular dental examination: If you keep up with your cleanings and checkups, you can head off potential problems before they turn into bigger issues.

Colonoscopies are painless and take about 30 minutes — and it could save your life.

“We want patients to have regular screening colonoscopies because we know they can help save lives,” said Dr. Mary Jacob of Gastrointestinal Specialists P.C. in Troy, Michigan.

Here are the Top 5 Reasons Why You Need a Colonoscopy:

1. Colon cancer and polyp screening

The No. 1 reason everyone should get a colonoscopy at age 45 (or sooner depending on your family history) is for the prevention and early detection of colon cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 23 men and 1 in 25 women have a lifetime risk of developing colon cancer. But because of colonoscopies, colon cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented — and early detection is lowering the colon cancer death rate.

(Adults ages 50 and older may qualify for a Colonoscopy Now, to save time and money!)

2. You have a family history of colon cancer

When your blood relatives have something like colon cancer, it increases the risk that you could develop it as well. Colon cancer screenings like a colonoscopy keep an eye on things and are often performed at a younger age as a preventive measure.

3. You have a personal history of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Patients with Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s colitis are at increased risk for developing colon cancer. Even if feeling great and your disease is controlled on medical therapy, surveillance colonoscopies are needed every 1-2 years to screen for early changes of colon cancer.

4. Rectal bleeding
Anytime you’re bleeding, you need to know why. If you fall and cut yourself, you know the reason you’re bleeding. Internally, it’s harder to know why, and often presents as rectal bleeding or in bloody stool. Not all rectal bleeding is from hemorrhoids. You may want to ignore the signs, but don’t: An evaluation by one of our doctors at Gastrointestinal Specialists P.C. in Troy, Michigan and colonoscopy can help determine the source of the bleeding, and catch a problem early.

5. Change in bowel habits

You know the foods you eat contribute to what happens in your digestive tract, so you may excuse the after effects of what you’ve been consuming — but there could be underlying issues requiring treatment by a GI specialist that are making things worse. And those issues may be able to be treated, making you more comfortable and healthier.

Schedule your colonoscopy

If you’re 45, or have one of the other Reasons Why You Need a Colonoscopy, you can request an appointment online now at Gastrointestinal Specialists. Our outpatient endoscopy center offers increased convenience and financial savings compared to a hospital.

Is there a way to nourish your digestive system for a healthier colon and happier gastrointestinal tract? Yes! The foods you eat can impact how your body responds — and it’s simple to incorporate these three things into your diet now.

“Diet is one of the easier things you can change to have a healthier colon,” said Dr. Jared Bortman, a gastroenterologist with Gastrointestinal Specialists PC & Endoscopy in Troy, Mich.

“I encourage my patients to increase their vegetable intake for the fiber benefit, as well as studies suggesting an association between vegetable consumption and reduced colorectal cancer risk.”

1. Whole Grains

Regularly including whole grains in your diet improves bowel health by helping to maintain regular bowel movements. At least half of the grains you consume should be whole grains — if not more.

Diet Tip: Start adding whole wheat, barley, oatmeal, whole wheat bran flakes (and gluten-free whole grains, including quinoa, buckwheat, brown rice and wild rice) to your daily rotation.

2. Water

The majority of our body’s functions depend on water — so it makes sense that drinking plenty of water improves our overall health, especially when it comes to the digestive system. Drinking enough water keeps stools soft, and ensures things are flowing throughout your gastrointestinal tract more smoothly. The more the foods you eat are watered down, the less chance of them getting “stuck” and causing you discomfort as they make their way out.

Diet Tip: Definitely don’t skip getting at least 64 ounces of water a day! And fruits and veggies are high in water content like watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, peaches, oranges, cucumber, lettuce, zucchini and soup.

3. Fiber

An apple a day keeps the doctor away — when it comes to the fiber in them that helps to keep your gastrointestinal tract clean. Vegetables are generally high in fiber and some fruits are too, so make sure you are getting a variety of veggies and fruit every day. Fiber removes waste by grabbing debris left behind in the colon on its way through your digestive system.

Diet Tip: Munch on seeds, nuts, brown rice, couscous, green beans, dark leafy vegetables, zucchini, celery, cabbage, raisins, apples, strawberries and oranges.

Take Care of Colon Issues

At Gastrointestinal Specialists PC & Endoscopy Center, we provide colon cancer screenings and colonoscopies, in addition to treating other gastrointestinal concerns to help you feel better and treat diseases. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.