Want a Colonoscopy? Know How Quickly Does Colon Cancer Develop
According to research, colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States. Research also has suggested that approximately 106,970 new cases occur in the state. As you may see, it is becoming a life-threatening consequence and the number is increasing daily. Still, despite the increasing number of cancer patients, people are unaware of the gruesomeness of colon cancer..
People may ask how long the polyp takes to develop into cancer. According to research, the polyp can turn into life-threatening cancer within 10 to 15 years. Continue reading this article to learn the symptoms of colon cancer, risk factors, myths and ways to detect and prevent it. If you are above 45 years old, do a colon cancer screening to notice any sign of colon polyp.
What Are the Symptoms of Colon Cancer?
Fatigue
Blood in your stool
Weight loss without any reason
Changes occur in your bowel habits, such as constipation and diarrhea
Abdominal discomfort, including pain and gas.
How Long Does a Colon Polyp Take to Develop into Cancer?
A colon polyp results from a gene mutation in your colon's stem cells. As the cells undergo division, the mutation gets passed. Keep in mind that the colon cells do not only separate but also grow.
As per the experts, they replace the entire lining of the colon once a week. Due to the mutation, there is a chance of forming a small cluster known as a polyp. It may turn into a cancerous one because of mutation-based consequences.
After that, it takes almost a decade to form cancer in your body. Since this is a slow-moving procedure, you can get plenty of time to prevent it from happening and save your life. It would be best to do colon cancer screening once every ten years to avoid such issues.
What Are the Risk Factors of Colon Cancer?
If you come from an African American background
You are above 50 years old
Have a family history of cancer
If you are consuming a high-fat diet regularly
Obesity
Diabetes
Alcohol
Smoking
Does Colonoscopy Prevent Colon Cancer in the Beginning?
Changing your lifestyle will help you prevent cancer or lowers the risk. You should know that overweight people are prone to colon cancer problems. Therefore, try to reduce excessive weight quickly.
Also, it is vital to exercise daily to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Don’t fall for a high-fat diet; eat a lot of vegetables and fruits. You can smoke and drink alcohol on certain occasions only; avoid making it a habit or getting addicted to it. Also, you should do a colon cancer screening to reduce the polyp from the colon, if there are any. According to the doctors, the colon cancer screening age is above 45.
Get Screened Today!
There are still some myths regarding colon cancer, such as the follows:
Cancer requiring an extended period or colon cancer may have spread to other body parts. Men are more prone to colon cancer than women or there is no need to do colon cancer screening because you don’t have visible symptoms.
These myths don’t do any good to you and we advise you to unfollow them. However, if you have a family history of colon cancer and experience some problems, contact us at Digestive Disease Specialists, INC. in OKC, even if you don’t encounter symptoms.
**Disclaimer: This blog content does not offer a doctor's advice and creates no relationship between any patient and care provider.
