Tag

Colonoscopy

All articles tagged with #colonoscopy

health1 month ago•428 min saved

Young Mom’s Colon Cancer Battle Highlights Symptoms Doctors Dismissed

TODAY profiles Sarah Beran, a 34-year-old mom who was told her fatigue and GI symptoms were likely IBS or a parasite. A worsening symptom—blood in stool—led to a colonoscopy that found 100+ polyps and a rectal mass. She underwent six rounds of chemotherapy, had her colon removed with an ileostomy, then six more chemo rounds and radiation after cancer spread to the lungs; she is now cancer-free but under ongoing surveillance. Beran later helped launch Worldclass, a Western North Carolina nonprofit that funds colonoscopies, highlighting that colonoscopy can prevent cancer by removing polyps and underscoring the need for patients to advocate for their own health.

via today.com|

#colon-cancer #colonoscopy #colorectal-cancer-awareness

health1 month ago•21 min saved

Why some cancers slip past detection—and how to spot them earlier

Despite progress in treatment and falling cancer deaths, cancers are increasingly diagnosed late in younger adults, and men are more often diagnosed at advanced stages across several cancer types. Screening helps but isn’t foolproof, so experts advocate personalized risk assessment, pursuing earlier or alternative screenings where appropriate (including colonoscopy), and adopting lifestyle changes to reduce risk while staying vigilant for symptoms.

via The Washington Post|

#cancer #colonoscopy #health

health1 month ago•11 min saved

From IBS to colon cancer: a 39-year-old fitness coach's wake-up call

Danni Duncan, a 39-year-old fitness coach from Australia, spent years with IBS-like symptoms before severe anemia led to a colonoscopy that revealed stage 2 colon cancer. She underwent tumor removal and four rounds of chemotherapy, faced side effects like cold sensitivity and breastfeeding challenges, but is now cancer-free and training for the NYC Marathon while urging young people to seek timely evaluation for persistent GI changes.

via Business Insider|

#anemia #colon-cancer #colonoscopy

health2 months ago•413 min saved

Colonoscopy Is the Gold Standard Gut Health Test, Doctor Says

A GI doctor says colonoscopy is the No. 1 test to know if your gut is healthy because it can prevent colorectal cancer by removing polyps; for average-risk adults, start screening at 45 and have a colonoscopy every 10 years, with additional lifestyle steps (high-fiber diet around 28 g/day, regular physical activity, no smoking or excessive alcohol) and routine checkups to reduce risk.

via TODAY.com|

#colon-cancer-screening #colonoscopy #colorectal-cancer

health3 months ago•7 min saved

Biohacker Bryan Johnson spotlights autoimmune gastritis

Entrepreneur Bryan Johnson revealed he has autoimmune gastritis, a hard-to-diagnose autoimmune attack on stomach acid–producing cells that can cause iron deficiency, anemia, and increased cancer risk. Medical experts urge more biopsies for iron-deficient patients to catch the condition, while Johnson weighs treatment options including iron supplementation and experimental approaches like CAR-T therapy, underscoring that even intense health optimization can’t fully shield someone from disease.

via STAT|

#autoimmune-gastritis #car-t-therapy #colonoscopy

health3 months ago•8 min saved

Hidden Signs of Bowel Cancer You Might Miss

Medical experts warn that colorectal cancer can mimic IBS and remain undiagnosed. Common signs include unexplained weight loss, dark stools or rectal bleeding, new or worsening changes in bowel habits, and sudden overnight GI symptoms. They emphasize timely medical evaluation—especially for those over 45 or with persistent changes—since early detection via colonoscopy can improve outcomes.

via HuffPost|

#bowel-cancer #colonoscopy #colorectal-cancer

health4 months ago•8 min saved

Pencil-Thin Stool: An Unexpected Clue About Colorectal Cancer

As colorectal cancer rates rise among younger people, doctors say pencil-thin stools can be a red flag, especially if new or persistent, often alongside blood in stool, abdominal pain or weight loss; early detection through screening like colonoscopy is crucial, with most people starting at age 45 unless risk factors (family history, inflammatory bowel disease, previous pelvic radiation, or genetic syndromes) warrant earlier testing.

via HuffPost|

#bowel-changes #colon-cancer #colonoscopy

health4 months ago•5 min saved

Fiber-focused diet confusion led to cancer diagnosis in Texas woman

A Texas woman who started a high-fiber diet noticed bowel changes and blood in stool, initially attributing symptoms to diet. A colonoscopy confirmed Stage II rectal cancer. She began chemotherapy and is awaiting surgery, with plans for possibly radiation; the story underscores the importance of promptly evaluating persistent bowel changes and notes rising colorectal cancer diagnoses in people under 50.

via CBS News|

#cancer #chemotherapy #colonoscopy

health4 months ago•3 min saved

Blood Test Joins Colorectal Cancer Screening to Reach the Underscreened

The American Cancer Society added the Shield blood test as a recommended option for colorectal cancer screening for people who can’t or won’t have colonoscopies or stool tests. It’s not a replacement for colonoscopy; it’s intended to increase screening among the under-screened. The Shield test detects DNA fragments from tumors and, while about 83% effective at detecting existing cancer, is less reliable for early-stage disease and precancerous polyps. It costs $895 out of pocket and insurance coverage isn’t guaranteed. Most doctors stress that colonoscopy remains the gold standard and screening options vary (stool tests, Cologuard/ColoSense) with follow-up colonoscopy required if a test is positive. Experts say expanding options could boost uptake, since screening should start at 45 for average risk.

via NBC News|

#colonoscopy #colorectal-cancer-screening #guardant-health

health4 months ago•6 min saved

Aging reshapes medical routines: when less is more for seniors

With age, the risk-benefit calculus of routine care shifts, prompting reconsideration of three practices: treating actinic keratoses on the skin may be overkill for many seniors; many older adults with subclinical hypothyroidism can taper off levothyroxine safely; and colonoscopy screening after age 75 (especially with limited life expectancy) offers tiny cancer-mortality benefit, suggesting some patients may skip or defer the procedure.

via Daily Kos|

#actinic-keratosis #aging #colonoscopy

health5 months ago•7 min saved

From Mild Cramps to Stage 3: Discovery During Routine Screening

A 45-year-old woman with few symptoms undergoes a colonoscopy after screening age was lowered, discovers a tumor, and is later staged at 3B with lymph node involvement. She undergoes sigmoid resection followed by 12 rounds of chemotherapy, facing delays due to COVID and severe side effects like neuropathy and hair loss, but is now cancer-free with ongoing six-month surveillance. The experience also reshaped her family life (she is now separated) and spurred advocacy and continued therapy.

via Business Insider|

#cancer #chemotherapy #colon-cancer

health5 months ago•5 min saved

Couric's Three Practical Steps to Lower Colon Cancer Risk

Couric notes colon cancer is rising among younger people and outlines three prevention pillars: eat a mostly plant-based diet with minimal ultra-processed foods, exercise regularly (e.g., Pilates, walking, strength training), and stay up to date with screenings (colonoscopy or at-home tests like Cologuard) to detect or prevent cancer. She cites her husband’s death and her own health journey, including a recent colonoscopy that found and removed polyps, to stress the importance of early detection and accessible screening.

via Business Insider|

#colon-cancer #colonoscopy #health

health6 months ago•2 min saved

Exhaustion prompts screening, reveals rectal cancer—woman now cancer-free

A Charlotte woman, 49, who felt exhausted for months underwent a colonoscopy that found a large rectal tumor, diagnosed as Stage 3C cancer; after chemotherapy, radiation and multiple surgeries she is now cancer-free, underscoring the importance of early screening to detect colorectal cancer before it progresses.

via WSOC TV|

#cancer #colonoscopy #colorectal-cancer

health6 months ago•4 min saved

Young Americans Battle Insurance Hurdles as Colon Cancer Rates Rise

Colon cancer rates are rising among people in their 20s and 30s in the US, but adults under 45 often struggle to get insurance coverage for colonoscopies since the ACA mainly covers preventive screenings for those 45 and older. Diagnostic colonoscopies can be denied or costlier, leading to delays and out-of-pocket expenses (one case cited around $2,000). Doctors note referral loops and misattributions of symptoms contribute to late evaluations. Some experts suggest stool tests like Cologuard to expedite access, while the debate about lowering screening age continues due to capacity and disparities. Researchers also advocate broader study of cancer causes (the exposome) to inform policy and screening strategies.

via The Guardian|

#affordable-care-act #colon-cancer #colonoscopy

health7 months ago•9 min saved

Early Screening Urged for High-Risk Groups Before Age 45

Colorectal cancer is increasingly affecting adults under 50, prompting doctors to call for earlier screening in high-risk groups even before 45. Official guidance still starts average-risk screening at 45, but those with strong family history, hereditary syndromes (such as Lynch syndrome, FAP, MAP, Peutz–Jeghers, Juvenile Polyposis), or inflammatory bowel disease may need earlier and/or more frequent colonoscopies. Colonoscopy remains the gold standard for detection and prevention by removing precancerous polyps, while stool tests exist as alternatives but are not ideal for high-risk individuals. Red flags like rectal bleeding, persistent changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, anemia, or unexplained weight loss warrant prompt evaluation regardless of age. Insurance coverage generally aligns with screening guidelines, though diagnostic testing prompted by symptoms can affect costs.

via Fox News|

#colonoscopy #colorectal-cancer #health