Diet of the Month: The Sonoma Diet
Like wine, cheese, olive oil and almonds? The Sonoma Diet may sound too good to be true, but it really works! go >
By Mark E. Stark, M.D.
QUESTION: One of my parents died of colon cancer, and I know that I should get a colonosocopy. The problem is that I can't fast for 24 hours because of other health problems. Are there any other screening options I could pursue?
ANSWER: Colonoscopy requires preparation, or cleansing of the stool from the inside of the colon, so that all surfaces can be seen. However, none of the various ways to prepare the bowel requires a 24-hour fast. And, yes, other screening options are available.
It's great that you are considering a screening test for the early detection or prevention of colorectal cancer, which is the third most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Because colorectal cancer develops from noncancerous growths (polyps), if everyone age 50 or older had screening tests to check for them, most cases of this disease could be prevented.
A person's risk is higher-than-average if a close relative has had colorectal polyps or cancer. Because your parent was affected, you should definitely be screened. If he or she developed cancer at a relatively young age, you may need to have your colon examined before age 50.
Other screening options are available, but colonoscopy is currently the "gold standard." This test, which most people are able to undergo, allows a doctor to examine the lining of the entire colon using a tiny camera on the end of a thin, flexible, lighted tube (colonoscope) that is steered through the colon. Intravenous medications are given to prevent discomfort. If polyps are found, they can be removed through the colonoscope, thereby preventing the development of cancer. Colonoscopy, which is covered by Medicare and many insurance plans, carries a very small risk of complications such as bleeding or damage to the colon wall.
Typically, to prepare for a colonoscopy, a person begins a clear-liquid diet the day prior to the procedure. These liquids, such as juices or broth, can contain calories, and they can be taken until four hours before the test. During the afternoon or evening before the colonoscopy, a special laxative solution is taken. Most people -- even those such as diabetics, who may have special dietary requirements -- are able to safely proceed with such bowel preparation. In any case, an advance meeting with the doctor who will perform the test could identify any special adjustments in diet or medications that you might require.
