Colonoscopy saves lives, as many experts and public health official believed. A large study has now confirmed this widely held belief.

A total of 25,000 Veterans Affairs (VA) patients were included in the research, all of whom had colonoscopies as part of their care. Patients over the age of 50 who have an average risk of developing colon or rectal cancer should be screened with this test, according to the Veterans Affairs.

Between 2002 and 2008, nearly 20,000 of those patients were cancer-free. A total of 5,000 people were diagnosed and died of colorectal cancer during this period. According to the study, those who died had a significantly lower chance of having had a colonoscopy.

Over the course of two decades, researchers found that "colon cancer screening was associated with a 61% decrease in mortality of colorectal cancer," according to the findings.

Why You Need a Colon Cancer Screening?

There are advantages and disadvantages to almost every procedure or test. Having an understanding of the tests you'll be taking will help you make an informed decision that is best for you. Having routine stool tests lowers the risk of dying from colorectal cancer, but no screening test is 100 percent accurate.

Benefits of the Screening

Most of the people of the USA go for colon cancer screening. The screening has a lot to do in the diagnosis. If the results are normal, a stool test is a good way to know if something is wrong. The detection of polyp-derived blood by a stool test can help prevent cancer. Preventing cancer is possible with the removal of these polyps. A stool test can detect cancer in its earliest stages before any symptoms develop.

Detecting cancer early on, when it is more treatable, is made possible through the use of a stool test. In most cases, colorectal cancer is deadly if not caught early enough. Early detection may lead to fewer treatments and a shorter recovery period for the patient in question. You have a better chance of survival if you detect colorectal cancer early on.

Monitoring anesthesia is used during colonoscopies. In order to keep you comfortable, pain-free, and unaware of the procedure, you'll be given medicine through an IV that will do so. The medication will be administered by a nurse anesthetist, who will keep a close eye on your vital signs—heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure—so that the doctors can concentrate on the colonoscopy.

Take a Decision Now

You're still debating whether or not to have a screening done. We believe that the benefits of regular stool tests for colorectal cancer overshadow the drawbacks in terms of finding cancer early. Contact Digestive Disease Specialist at their Oklahoma office if you wish to book your schedule for colon cancer screening.

**Disclaimer: This blog content does not offer a doctor's advice and creates no relationship between any patient and care provider.