The Doctor Is In: Colonoscopy

Content is provided and sponsored by Beaumont Health.

Expert:  Harry Wasvary, M.D. Colorectal Surgery Beaumont Health 

March is Colon Cancer awareness month.  It's one of the cancers that, with early testing, can be detected and prevented.   Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women in the U.S.  Many people experience no symptoms during the early stages and that's why screening is so important.  As a general rule, doctors say you should get tested when you're 50. If you have a family history of colon cancer, it should be even sooner.  Most colon cancer begins as harmless polyps or growths in your colon.  During a colonoscopy,  the goal is to find the polyps and remove them before they become cancerous.