Maintaining a healthy diet full of fiber will go a long way to keep your colon healthy, according to Dr. Esther Cha, a colorectal surgeon at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne. She suggests patients eat 25 grams of fiber a day by adding a variety of fruits, vegetables, cereals and breakfast bars to the menu. She also urges people to drink plenty of water to maintain good bowel health.
Screening for colorectal cancer by colonoscopy is considered the "gold standard." The American Cancer Society Guideline for Colorectal Cancer Screening have recommended starting routine screening for average-risk patients at 45, earlier from the previously recommended age of 50. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force also recommends 45. Any patient with family history of colorectal cancer should be screened sooner. These changes were made due to the increase in incidence of early age onset colorectal cancer.
She adds that changes in surgical procedures, such as minimally invasive and robotic operations are making procedures easier for patients. Incisions are smaller, there is less reliance on narcotics for pain management and recovery time is faster. She adds that changes in post surgical care and protocols have also improved the time it takes for bowel function to return and for a patient to return to normal activity.