Colon Cancer Prevention and Detection in Hunterdon County
Your Ticket to a Life Without Colon Cancer
You may not want to talk about it. You may not want to think about it. But, getting screened for colorectal cancer is one of the smartest things you can do for your health.
While colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and third leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women*, it is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. It is also one of the most preventable because it is so slow growing.
Many colorectal cancers are caused by abnormal growths called polyps, or adenomas, that develop very gradually over time to become cancerous. By detecting and removing polyps, we can reduce the risk of developing cancer by 90%.
Who should get screened?
Everyone who is 50 or older and hasn’t had their first screening test or hasn’t been screened in more than ten years
Anyone with a close family member with colorectal cancer or polyps should have a first screening 10 years before the age your first-degree relative was diagnosed
Anyone with history of inflammatory bowel disease
Anyone with a history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps
Who is most at risk for colorectal cancer?
While the majority of those who contract colorectal cancer have no obvious risk factors, there are certain people who are at a higher risk. These include:
Any man or woman over 50 (African Americans over 45)
Anyone with a close family member with colorectal cancer
Anyone with a history of prior polyps or colon cancer
Anyone with a history of inflammatory bowel disease
Women with a personal or family history of breast, uterine or ovarian cancer
Anyone who smokes or is significantly overweight
Certain dietary factors, such as a high fat and high red meat diet
If you are in one of these high risk groups, call us today to schedule an appointment. Our goal is to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer with convenient and comfortable diagnostic screenings.
*These facts are based on published websites from the American Cancer Society (ACS), the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
We Make it Easier and More Affordable to Get Your Colonoscopy
At Hunterdon Gastroenterology Associates (HGA), our state-of-the-art facility makes your colon cancer screening convenient, comfortable and affordable.
A colonoscopy is the most effective test to examine the lower part of the intestinal tract called the colon. We use the most advanced endoscopic equipment to perform the procedure, which gives us the sharpest images to detect and remove even the smallest polyps. To ensure you experience no anxiety or discomfort during this minimally invasive procedure, we administer a sedative that allows you to recover quickly without extreme grogginess.
Our highly skilled gastroenterology specialists are experts at performing this nearly pain-free screening procedure. Should we discover polyps, and your insurance covers it, we will remove them at the same time and send them to our in-house lab for the fastest analysis possible so you don’t have to wait any longer than necessary for results.
AT HGA, it’s Always Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Make your appointment to be screened today!
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