Health information

QUESTION: I am presently 48
Both my parents have colon cancer, father at
age 67 and mother at age 51
Recently on colonoscopy, two polyps were removed
from my colon, both found to be benign
My doctor wishes to wait three years
for my next exam, but I read that the American Cancer Society recommends two
successive years with normal findings before waiting for 3 to 5 years
Do you
think an exam every three years is sufficient for someone with my history?

ANSWER: While the American Cancer Society recommendations are valuable
guidelines, each patient must be viewed as an individual, with medical care
organized and given to meet with their special needs
The discovery of the
polyps, to my way of thinking, is sufficient reason for you to have an
examination on a yearly basis until you have a negative result for two years
in a row, then three years between examination seems reasonable
Your family
history is strong indication to follow this schedule
Another precaution you
might wish to perform on your own is a yearly stool examination for blood,
using one of the many home kits now on the market
Though not always 100
percent accurate, they are sufficiently so to serve as a valuable resource for
you in between your yearly scoping
Your local office of the American Cancer
Society can provide you with the written guidelines to show your present
physician
If that doesn’t help convince him, there are plenty of others who
do believe that timely examinations are necessary.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

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