NOW MEDICARE COVERS A TEST THAT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE!!

The incidence of Colon Cancer is significant in OUR population. One hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) cases are diagnosed yearly. Fifty five thousand (55,000) deaths occur making colorectal cancer Americas #2 cancer killer. MOST of these cases of colon cancer are preventable.

We say preventable because most colon cancers start as a polyp. If we find and remove these polyps, colon cancer may be prevented. In many instances we may find a colon cancer at a stage when it is treatable.

March is colon cancer screening month The American Cancer Society, American College of Gastroenterology and the American Gastroenterologic Association suggests that everyone over the age of 50 undergo a screening COLONOSCOPY procedure. This test is designed to look at the total large intestine (colon) for polyps and early stage cancers.

The Colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure. We would prepare your intestine with laxatives the day before the procedure. If polyps are found at the time of the test we would remove them AND test for cancer.

If your first-degree relatives (father, mother, sisters or brothers) have had colon cancer, then it is vitally important that you begin your screening with a colonoscopy. We would schedule your colonoscopy 15 -20 years before the age of your relative when they had the cancer discovered.

After intensive lobbying by the various gastroenterology societies, Congress passed, and former - president Clinton signed into law an act that created a new expansion of patient options in the Medicare benefit for colorectal cancer screening. Medicare will cover screening colonoscopy for the Medicare population.

Naugatuck Valley Gastroenterology Consultants can help teach you about colon cancer, and get you involved in your own health care.