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“America’s Got Talent” judge Heidi Klum recently snapped some memorable photos of her colon instead of herself.
She uses it to raise awareness about the importance of colon cancer screening.
The 49-year-old recently shared during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” He revealed that he had undergone a mirror examination.
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He suffers from a type of migraine known as a cluster headache, so the two attended a wellness retreat in Austria.
Klum told comedian Nicole Byer, who was a guest host on a late-night show two weeks ago, “Normally I take pictures from outside, but they were all there.
She learned that the intestine was eight meters long, but admitted that she “couldn’t get a good picture of it.”
What is a colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a screening test that is often performed by a doctor who specializes in the gastrointestinal tract. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this screening is done on people who have no symptoms to look for disease.
“There are multiple ways to screen for colorectal cancer, including colonoscopies, stool tests, and imaging (virtual colonography),” says Avinash, a gastroenterologist and associate professor at Yale Medical School in Connecticut. Dr. Ketwaroo said.
“Colonoscopy has the advantage of detecting and removing precancerous polyps in the same procedure.”
According to the CDC, nearly all colorectal cancers arise from overgrowths in the colon or rectum known as precancerous polyps.
Health authorities say a colonoscopy can see if you have precancerous polyps, so they can be removed before they become cancerous.
“Colonoscopy has the advantage of being able to detect and remove precancerous polyps in the same procedure, thus preventing colorectal cancer,” says New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital. said Dr. David Greenwald, Director of Clinical Gastroenterology and Endoscopy.
The benefits outweigh the risks for most people
Greenwald told Fox News Digital that colonoscopies are generally safe and well tolerated with minimal risks, but there are a few complications you should be aware of before agreeing to the procedure. There is
These include complications related to sedation and the risk of bleeding, “which is estimated to occur in about 1 in 1,000 cases.”
“For colonoscopies, the benefits of detecting and preventing colorectal cancer are substantial and far outweigh the risks.”
As the endoscope passes into the colon, another rare complication is “perforation or puncture of the intestine, which occurs in about 3,000 to 1 in 1 person. [in] 5,000 procedures. “
“All medical procedures have risks,” says Greenwald. “The benefits of colonoscopy in detecting and preventing colorectal cancer are significant and far outweigh the risks.”
Never mind the “preparation”
Still, many patients are wary of having a colonoscopy because the colon must be cleared of stool. Preparation requires frequent trips to the bathroom before the procedure.
“Preparing for a colonoscopy is often considered the worst part of the procedure.
“However, newer and tastier preparation solutions are available, making it possible to achieve complete colonoscopy preparation with less liquid than previously thought.”
And once it’s “prepared,” Greenwald says it’s less liquid and has a better-tasting solution, but it’s generally “not as bad as people might expect it to be.”
However, some people would like to opt for a less invasive screening approach.
Stool tests and other screenings
Greenwald told Fox News Digital that other screening tests are available to detect polyps, but if polyps are detected, a colonoscopy should be done later to remove them. says.
He added that less invasive screening tests include stool-based tests that look for blood in the stool, such as FIT and fecal immunochemistry.
“Colonoscopy remains the most effective way to reduce the overall risk of developing colon cancer.”
These tests are typically done annually. According to the CDC, the patient will receive a test kit and using a stick or brush he will collect one or more small stool samples.
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The sample is then returned to the laboratory and tested for the presence of blood.
Another type of stool test is known as a FIT-DNA test, which looks for both blood in the stool and “abnormal pieces of DNA that may arise from polyps or cancer.”
Performed every three years, the test requires patients to collect a complete bowel movement, which is sent to a lab to look for the presence of “altered DNA” and blood, according to the CDC.
“Colonoscopy continues to be the most effective way to reduce the overall risk of developing colon cancer,” said Ketwaroo. “This allows us to find and remove precancerous polyps and identify colon cancer earlier, when it can be more easily treated.”
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This is more compared to “a two-step approach with stool-based testing, in which if there is an abnormality on the stool test, a second step, colonoscopy, must complete a series of screenings.” It is an efficient “one step approach”. Added.
When should I have a repeat colonoscopy?
Greenwald said national guidelines generally recommend that people at average risk have colonoscopies every 10 years.
However, stool tests should be done more frequently.
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Klum admitted that she was “a little late to the party” to get a colonoscopy since she turned 50.
“Recently, the recommended age for the first screening test was lowered from 50 to 45.
“This reflects a growing awareness of young patients. [having] Colorectal cancer. “
Klum said her colonoscopy was normal.
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However, if a colonoscopy finds a precancerous polyp, depending on the type of polyp, “if the colonic polyp is detected on the year),” said Greenwald.
“Patients who have developed colonic polyps once are at increased risk of developing colonic polyps later and require more intensive surveillance.”