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Your Trusted Double - Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Colon cancer (also referred to as colorectal cancer) is preventable and curable, but in the beginning there are no symptoms. If colon cancer is caught in its earliest stages, it can be cured 90 to 100% of the time. Prevention is also possible. Colorectal cancer can be prevented through proper diet and removal of pre-cancerous growths, called polyps.
However, to prevent this disease or discover it in its earliest stages, patients need to participate in the screening process. There are several methods to screen patients for colon cancer. Our physician will assist you in determining which of these the best are for you.
We recommend three screening tests. Talk to our medical staff about which is right for you and how often you should be tested:
Will insurance pay for colonoscopies?
Medicare and many insurance plans are now required to pay for colonoscopies for people age 50 and over, or earlier if risk factors demonstrate a need. Contact Midwest Gastroenterology at 816-836-2200 to find out more about pricing and insurance coverage.
Who should be screened?
Patients who are at average risk for colon cancer are characterized by the following:
Who should be screened?
Patients who are at average risk for colon cancer are characterized by the following:
For an average risk patient, a screening colonoscopy is recommended after the age of 45. This is an examination of the colon with a videoscope so the physician can see any abnormalities, such as a polyp or a cancer. At the time of the colonoscopy, polyps can be removed to prevent a cancer from developing.
If a person is in a high-risk category for colon cancer, then a colonoscopy may be performed sooner than age 45. Any person with a first degree relative who has had colon cancer (i.e. parent, sibling) should have a colonoscopy approximately ten years prior to the age of diagnosis of that particular relative.
If we would all eat the way our mothers and grandmothers told us to, we’d have a much lower risk of developing colon cancer in the first place.
A high-fiber, low-fat diet can reduce the chances of developing polyps. Of course, the only proven way to prevent colorectal cancer is to have regular screenings to find and remove polyps. But when you combine regular screening with a healthy lifestyle, you benefit even more. A diet that’s high in fiber and low in fat can promote regular bowel function, thereby reducing the amount of time any cancer-causing substance is in contact with the colon lining and diluting the concentration of cancer-causing substances.
More than half of all colorectal cancers could be prevented if everyone followed these healthy tips:
There are other benefits to a high fiber diet, too. When you eat more fiber, you feel full faster, which means you eat less (that’s better for your weight) and can lower your cholesterol (which is better for your heart). Fiber-rich foods also help improve constipation, diarrhea, hemorrhoids and diverticultis.
For More Information:
To find more information on this topic, visit:
National Cancer Institute
WebMD
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After years and years of stomach issues and having the same simple tests done with no results, I saw Dr. Taormina and he’s actually trying to help figure it all out, new tests…
The staff was very professional and friendly. The exam was explained by a nurse and the Anesthesiologist then came in to explain what she was going to do. Dr Taormina came…
The facility is small enough you don’t feel like a number and big enough you know they have what they need in case of an emergency. Dr Taormina is easy to talk to and answers all questions. Explains everything well, easy to understand. The group of nurses are also great!
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3601 NE Ralph Powell Rd, Suite A
Lee’s Summit, MO 64064
Phone: (816) 836-2200
Fax: (816) 836-2244
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