Joining us now is Andrew Shelton, a colon and rectal surgeon from Colon and Rectal Surgery Associates, Ltd. in Plymouth. Dr. Shelton will answer as many questions as possible, focusing on the questions that will help the most participants. I had surgery for colon cancer approximately 18 years ago. People who have had curative surgery for colorectal cancer are at increased risk of developing new polyps or cancers in the future. Therefore, it's very important that people who have had surgery for colon cancer undergo regular follow-up colonoscopy.
Colon polyps are precancerous.
One of the important reasons to undergo regular screening is to identify people who have polyps so that these can be removed and cancer prevented. Shelton FYI - Katie Couric, anchor of NBC's today show, has done a lot of work to raise awareness of colorectal cancer. People should begin colorectal cancer screening depends a great deal on family history. People with no family history of colon cancer or polyps should begin screening at age 50. Proctoscopy is not a currently recommended screening technique because it only allows for visualization of the rectum.