As an endoscopist, one of the hardest pieces of news I have to deliver is the diagnosis of colon cancer. It’s only natural for patients to ask: Why did this happen? Could it have been prevented?
Colon cancer begins as a small collection of cells, called a polyp. A polyp starts as a tiny, microscopic cluster of cells that begin to mutate. Initially, these polyps are typically benign. However, as they grow, they can develop a focus of precancerous cells. This area of mutated tissue, if left unchecked, can eventually progress into full-blown colon cancer.
Polyps become visible when they reach about 2 to 3 mm in size, but they typically don’t start showing signs of precancerous change until they exceed 10 mm. Fortunately, polyps grow slowly, giving us a crucial window of time to remove them before they develop into something more dangerous. This is where colonoscopy becomes a vital tool in cancer prevention.
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