Colon Cancer Screening Specialist
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Kevin McNamara, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist located in Tulsa, OK
Rates of colon cancer diagnoses in Oklahoma are among the highest in the country. Regular colon cancer screening may prevent you from developing colon cancer and save your life. Board-certified gastroenterologist Kevin McNamara, MD, performs colon cancer screenings at his private practice in Tulsa, Oklahoma. To schedule your screening, contact the office by phone or online today.
Colon Cancer Screening Q&A
What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer is a type of cancer that develops in your large intestines, which is the last portion of your digestive tract. Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer diagnosed in men and women in the United States — excluding skin cancer — and one of the leading causes of cancer death for both sexes.
Colon cancer usually starts as a polyp, which is a benign growth found on the lining of the intestinal tract. Over time, your benign polyp may turn cancerous.
Polyps generally don’t cause symptoms and you may not know you have any until you start to experience symptoms indicative of colon cancer, such as:
- Changes in your bowel habits
- Abdominal pain
- Bloody stools
- Rectal bleeding
- Unexplained weight loss
Your colon cancer screenings may find benign polyps and remove them before they turn cancerous.
When do I need to get a colon cancer screening?
When you need to get a colon cancer screening may depend on your medical history and ethnicity. On average, you should start colon cancer screenings between the ages of 45 and 50.
You may benefit from earlier colon cancer screenings if you have:
- A family history of colorectal cancer
- An inflammatory bowel condition, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
- A personal history of colorectal cancer
- A personal history of abnormal polyps
You may also benefit from earlier and more frequent colon cancer screenings if you have (or suspect you have) hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome.
What are the types of colon cancer screening tests?
There are many colon cancer screening tests available. Your testing options include:
- Stool-based testing
- Virtual colonoscopy
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Colonoscopy
Though you have many colon cancer screening options, Dr. McNamara considers the colonoscopy the most comprehensive colon cancer screening test and is considered the “gold standard” for colon cancer screening because it prevents and detects colon cancer.
During a colonoscopy, Dr. McNamara uses a colonoscope, which is a flexible tube equipped with a light and camera, that allows him to carefully examine the lining of your entire large intestines.
If Dr. McNamara finds any polyps during your colonoscopy, he removes them and sends them out to pathology for testing.
Colon cancer screening can save your life. To schedule a consultation to learn more, contact the office of Kevin McNamara, MD, by phone or online today.
