Dr. Shanil Harkins of East Cobb GI Specialists of Georgia joins medical professionals throughout the country in spreading the word to promote National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
Did you know colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer? Did you know it’s also the third most common cancer for both men and women in the United States? These are not questions we typically want to think about. But, as Dr. Harkins points out, awareness leads to prevention, and that’s what National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is all about.
“Screening is the No. 1 way to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer,” explains Dr. Harkins. “Colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum. With regular screening, the polyps can be detected early and removed before they become cancerous.”
Dr. Harkins stresses that a colonoscopy is the gold standard screening method, one recommended by the American Cancer Society and the American Gastroenterological Association.
A colonoscopy is a safe, short endoscopic procedure that allows an endoscopist to view the inner lining of your large intestine by using a flexible tubular instrument while under anesthesia. When necessary, polyps are removed and sent to pathology for evaluation. It’s important to note not all polyps are the same, which is why screening is so important. A prior office visit is not always necessary, and GI Specialists even has a scheduling hotline at 1-888-MYCOLON.
In 2018, the American Cancer Society revised its screening guidelines, and now recommends all average risk patients of all races start screening at age 45. However, for those with a family history of precancerous polyps in a first-degree relative, screening should start at age 40 or 10 years before the relative was diagnosed.
This year, Dr. Harkins is preparing for her initial screening colonoscopy, which she plans to document with video and share it online and via social media. “I know the screening preparation is hard, but it’s important,” she says. “So many patients don’t know what we’re looking for regarding polyps. We are with you and know it’s not easy.” Her goal is to clarify and answer the common questions she encounters in her daily practice.
Another significant factor in raising awareness is communicating what symptoms to look for, according to Dr. Harkins. These include unexplained changes in bowel habits, blood in the stools, and persistent abdominal pain.
Part of a larger network of 22 physicians, the East Cobb location of GI Specialists of Georgia treats all disorders of the digestive tract including liver and pancreas disorders. GI Specialists of Georgia has nine office locations and three endoscopy centers in the Northwest Atlanta area.
Join others during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and schedule your colonoscopy now. For a screening colonoscopy appointment, call 678-741-2313. For more information about GI Specialists of Georgia or to schedule an office appointment, go to www. gigeorgia.com. GI Specialists of Georgia in East Cobb is located at 3747 Roswell Road, Suite 314, Marietta 30062.
This article was originally printed in EAST COBBER March/April issue.
