Colon Cancer Screening Specialist
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Jay P. Diliberto, MD
Gastroenterologist located in Huntington Beach, CA
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men (35,000-40,000 yearly) behind lung cancer. In women, it is the third leading cause of death (30,000-35,000) behind lung cancer and breast cancer (40,000 deaths). Importantly, 10% of the new colon cancers in the USA are in patients under 50 years old, which is why screening now begins at 45 years old. Many of these cancers could be avoided if more people underwent colon cancer screening. Board-certified gastroenterologist Jay P. Diliberto, MD, offers comprehensive colon cancer screening services at his private practice in Huntington Beach, California. If you're unsure whether you need to have colon cancer screening, call Jay P. Diliberto, MD Inc. today or use the online form to schedule a consultation.
Colon Cancer Screening Q&A
What is colon cancer screening?
Colonoscopy is the best test for detecting the earliest signs of cancer in your large bowel. Most cancers develop from a specific type of polyp called an adenoma. During colonoscopy, the polyps are removed so that they do not develop into cancer. It’s that simple.
Most people these days simply develop cancers because they skip or delay their colonoscopies. Colon or colorectal cancer can develop at any age, but you're more likely to get it as you grow older.
By undergoing colon cancer screening with Dr. Diliberto, you can receive treatment before the polyps have the chance to turn cancerous.
Colon cancer can occur at higher rates than usual if you possess these risk factors:
- Having a history of pre-cancerous colon polyps on a prior colonoscopy
- Having already had colon cancer
- Having a family history of colon cancer or a genetic predisposition such as Lynch Syndrome
- Having inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for more than eight years
However, in Dr. Diliberto’s expert opinion, colonoscopy is the best test as it is both preventative (remove polyps) and diagnostic.
What occurs during a colonoscopy?
After a sedative is administered, a fiber-optic instrument is passed through the colon. It is rarely painful, and most patients sleep through the whole process.
As the colonoscope travels along your large bowel, Dr. Diliberto looks for abnormalities. If he sees anything unusual, he takes a tissue sample (biopsy). If there are any polyps in your colon or rectum, Dr. Diliberto removes them, and they go for pathology testing to confirm if they are pre-cancerous or not.
Colon cancer screening beginning at 45 years old could genuinely save your life, so don't delay scheduling yours. Call the office Jay P. Diliberto, MD Inc. today or use the online scheduling link to request an appointment.
