The Dangers of Putting Off That Colonoscopy

Scheduling a colonoscopy may seem daunting, but it’s one of the best decisions you can make. Detecting precancerous polyps early in their development can reduce your risk of colorectal cancer, protect your health, and provide peace of mind. 

At his eponymous practice, with offices in Los Angeles and Glendale, California, board-certified colon and rectal surgeon Robert G. Yavrouian, MD, uses colonoscopies to help prevent cancer and save lives. Here, we explain what a colonoscopy is and discuss the dangers of putting it off.

What is a colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a preventive screening that examines the inside of your large intestine (colon), rectum, and anus. 

It uses a tool called an endoscope — a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera on the end — to check for precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer. It can also diagnose other abnormalities that cause diarrhea, constipation, or rectal bleeding.

Identifying the cause of these and other digestive issues can prevent your symptoms from worsening and improve your health and quality of life.

When to schedule a colonoscopy

If you feel well and don’t have any digestive symptoms, you might think a colonoscopy is unnecessary, but that isn’t necessarily the case. Dr. Yavrouian recommends scheduling one if you:

• Are 45 or older and haven’t had one
• Haven’t had a colonoscopy in at least 10 years
• Had tissue removed during a previous colonoscopy
• Have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Have a family history of colorectal cancer

Likewise, schedule a colonoscopy if you have an inherited disease, like familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), that increases your risk of colorectal cancer.

Potential dangers of putting off a colonoscopy

Failing to schedule a preventive colonoscopy can have potentially severe consequences, especially for your health. These potential consequences include:

1. Missed polyps

Between 70-90% of colorectal cancers start as benign (noncancerous) growths called adenomatous polyps. Small polyps (those less than 5 millimeters in diameter) are unlikely to be malignant, but up to 50% of polyps 2 centimeters or larger become cancer.

A colonoscopy provides a quick, minimally invasive way to check your colon for cancerous polyps. If Dr. Yavrouian finds anything suspicious, he can collect a tissue sample (biopsy) and determine your cancer risk.

2. Delayed cancer diagnoses

Colorectal cancer is very treatable and typically not aggressive. So, when it’s caught early on, it can often be managed with surgery and other therapies. 

However, if you don’t request a colonoscopy as part of your routine preventive care, colorectal cancer can grow undetected. The later colorectal cancer is detected, the more likely it is to spread to other parts of your body, making treatment more complicated and risky.

3. Increased need for radiation and chemotherapy

When colorectal cancer is caught in the early stages of development, it’s usually confined to the colon and rectum specifically. In fact, the five-year survival rate for early-stage colorectal cancer is 90%. At this stage, most colorectal cancer can be removed and eradicated with surgery.

However, if colorectal cancer spreads to other parts of your body, like your lymph nodes or organs, more aggressive treatments like chemotherapy and radiation may be necessary. These treatments aren’t as quick or concise as surgery and present various side effects that can result in other medical issues.

Don’t wait to schedule a preventive colonoscopy!

Undergoing a colonoscopy is one of the best, most effective ways to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer. If you’ve been putting off a colonoscopy, schedule one today at the practice of Robert G. Yavrouian, MD, by calling the nearest office or contacting us online.