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Doctors remind those 45 and older to get regular screenings
GREEN BAY, Wis. – With March being Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Prevea Health doctors remind everyone 45-years-old and older to receive regular screening colonoscopies. Colon cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in men and the second leading cause of cancer death for women under the age of 50, according to the American Cancer Society’s annual cancer statistics report. These new statistics are of concern as two decades ago colon cancer was the fourth leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S.
At the Prevea Surgery Center, located at 1830 Shawano Ave. in Green Bay, Dr. Vikas Khullar, Prevea gastroenterologist, says by detecting potential precancerous polyps through a colonoscopy, doctors and patients have a better chance of preventing and treating the disease before it spreads or grows.
“When precancerous polyps are discovered early during a screening, our team can utilize techniques to remove them before they grow into colon cancer,” said Dr. Khullar. “It’s important for people to know this disease is preventable, especially if the polyps are removed prior to them fully developing into cancer.”
While many will not have to schedule their first colonoscopy until the age of 45, Dr. Khullar urges those with a higher risk of developing the disease or those with a family history of colorectal cancer to talk with their primary care physician about being screened earlier. For those who receive a colonoscopy with clean results, most will not to have to schedule another screening for several years.
“It’s estimated up to one-third of the people diagnosed with colon cancer, before the age of 50, have a family history of the disease,” said Dr. Khullar. “For this reason, I encourage those with family history of colon cancer to talk to their primary care provider about scheduling a colonoscopy even earlier.”
To schedule a colon cancer screening in Green Bay with Dr. Khullar, Dr. Chaitanya Pant, Dr. Mark Laukka or Dr. Mohamed Azab at the Prevea Surgery Center, a referral from a primary care provider is required. You can schedule an appointment with a Prevea primary care provider in Green Bay by calling (920) 431-1810 or by visiting prevea.com.
For more information about colonoscopies and what a patient should expect from the procedure, visit https://www.prevea.com/colonoscopy.
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About Prevea Health
Prevea Health is a community of passionate and accomplished physicians, caregivers and staff working together to provide exceptional health care. Patients have trusted Prevea with their medical care needs since 1996 when the organization was founded in Green Bay, Wis. Today, Prevea provides primary care and a wide range of specialty medical care in clinic, hospital, and workplace settings across Northeast Wisconsin. It is partnered with Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) which operates hospitals in Wisconsin. For more information about Prevea Health, visit www.prevea.com.