Benign Colon Disease

You may experience symptoms such as stomach pain or spotting. But benign colon disease, which could lead to more serious conditions like colon cancer if left untreated, won’t always signal its presence. That’s why being proactive is so important, which is where we come in. We recommend colonoscopies every decade starting at age 50, or younger if your family has a higher risk. At AdventHealth, our compassionate team is here to make you feel comfortable, enabling you to sleep restfully through the test.

Beyond regular colonoscopies, our team of gastroenterologists may also suggest other exams, including:

• Double-Contrast Barium Enema (DCBE), X-Rays the Soft Tissue Within Your Abdomen
• Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), Detects Hidden Blood in Your Stool
• Sigmoidoscopy, Screens the Lower Section of Your Colon
• Virtual Colonoscopy (CT Colonography), Inflating Your Colon with Air to X-Ray the Interior

For your peace of mind and to get an even more complete picture of your health, our genetic counselors can sit with you and review your family history and DNA for potential risks of cancer or inherited syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis. Understanding your risk means we can help you make the best choices for your continued health and wellness.

You’re not alone. Benign colon disease is very common and in most cases can be easily treated. Most colon polyps that occur are non-cancerous and 90 percent will never develop into cancer. Even if there’s a chance of cancer, we’re here to guide you, support you, and offer you options. The colon polyps we treat include:

• Adenomas are the most common polyps and are defined by their shape: tubular, villous, and tubulovillous.
• Familial adenomatous polyposis occurs during teenage years and can be treated by our skilled Pediatric Team.
• Hamartomas juvenile polyps are generally found in children age 10 and younger and can be treated by our compassionate Pediatric Team.
• Hyperplastic polyps are very common and never cancerous.
• Inflammatory polyps are typically found in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
• Lymphoid polyps are non-cancerous growths.
• Neoplastic epithelial polyps are slow-growing clumps that can turn into cancer after many years.
• Non-neoplastic epithelial polyps are non-cancerous and result from changes in your colon lining or mucus.
• Peutz-Jeghers’ polyps result from a rare disease identified by bluish spots around the lips and gums.

Feel whole in body, mind, and spirit. At AdventHealth, part of our commitment to whole-person care involves guiding you on a path to wellness and helping you eat a healthy diet (with plenty of vitamin D and calcium), limit alcohol, quit smoking, stay physically active, and maintain a healthy weight.

For a more active approach, we use the most minimally invasive screening and surgical techniques possible. For your comfort, our gastroenterologists remove colon polyps during colonoscopies while you’re asleep, usually before you even know they’re there. Before and after, we sit down with you, answer your questions, and discuss expectations, all to help you gain control of your digestive health. Trust in our expertise. Take comfort in our welcoming care.