Taking Steps to Prevent Colon Cancer

It's something you may not look forward to but a colonoscopy could save someone's life.

Over 150,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer every year, but detecting it early takes less than 30 minutes.

Mari Casas was nervous about undergoing her procedure.

Casas turned 51 which is the recommended age for patients to receive the screening.

Maria was put on a liquid diet in preparation of her colonoscopy in order for the intestines to be completely cleared out.

Before starting she received an anesthetic and was put to sleep, the colonoscope is a thin tube with a camera attached is placed inside her, allowing the doctor to look through her intestine.

Also the doctor makes sure to check for polyps, or a benign growth along the ligning of the colon.

At the end of the procedure, three polyps were found and removed.

The doctors recommended her to receive her next colonoscpy in the next five years.

In the past ten months, the center has detected colon cancer in 15 of their patients, four of those were diagnosed in just the last six weeks.

If you would like more information from the Laredo Digestive Center, you can give them a call at 795-4476.