mississippi va medical center
cancer is a life threatening illness, immediate medical intervention. Statistics show that colon cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer diagnosed in the United States each year. Although bowel cancer affects mainly older people, the disease can also be applied to young adults and even children. oncologists maintain that an early diagnosis of colorectal cancer plays an important role in overcoming the disease, such as a medical intervention significantly increased patient life expectancy. thanks to medical advances, doctors can now several modern techniques for diagnosing colorectal cancer. Common methods for discovery of early signs of colorectal cancer are barium enemas, colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy.

Sigmoidoscopy is one of the most reliable medical procedures used in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer in the present. By means of sigmoidoscopy, oncologists are able to ensure timely detection of signs of physiological abnormalities at the level of the colon. Sigmoidoscopy can be either a fixed or a flexible framework, depending on the segments of the colon, the screening. However, due to the fact that rigid sigmoidoscopy provides limited visibility, doctors usually prefer using a flexible framework. In addition, flexible sigmoidoscopy is less likely, to the patient. Flexible sigmoidoscopy with a 60-cm scope that can easily detect cancerous colonic polyps, tumors, or adenomas in different regions of the large intestine.

Sigmoidoscopy is primarily for patients who have no clear symptoms of colon cancer. The procedure involves very few risks, and it is well tolerated by most patients. Post-sigmoidoscopy symptoms are usually mild and disappear within a few hours or days. These symptoms may include abdominal pain and bloating, internal discomfort and rarely, minor rectal injury.

Although sigmoidoscopy is a simple procedure, it is important to note that it is not appropriate for some patients. Sigmoidoscopy is not recommended for people who have suffered from intestinal surgery, people with acute peritonitis, or people with acute diverticulitis. In some cases, the procedure may also be contraindicated for people who have recently abdominal surgery.

Before an examination with the sigmoidoscope, patients are bisacodyl and magnesium citrate. Combined with enemas, these medications are used for the preparation of the large bowel for sigmoidoscopy. The preparation for the treatment of sigmoidoscopy is very important for increasing the visibility into the intestine. The actual procedure is very fast and they usually cause minimal discomfort for patients. Post-sigmoidoscopy complications are very rare.

Corroborated screening with colonoscopy and barium enemas, sigmoidoscopy is very effective in the timely detection of traces of malicious activity on the level of the large intestine. Since it has been used in the process of diagnosis colon cancer, sigmoidoscopy has considerably decreased patient mortality.