[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/03\/colon-screenings-save-lives\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/03\/colon-screenings-save-lives\/","headline":"UPMC Susquehanna: Colon Screenings Save Lives","name":"UPMC Susquehanna: Colon Screenings Save Lives","description":"New direct referrals enable patients to both see a gastroenterologist and undergo a colonoscopy on the same day, making screening less time-intensive. ","datePublished":"2017-03-14","dateModified":"2022-06-09","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/032017_COLONSCREENINGS.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/032017_COLONSCREENINGS.jpg","height":325,"width":751},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/03\/colon-screenings-save-lives\/","about":["Family Health"],"wordCount":234,"keywords":["cancer","cancer prevention","colon cancer","Colon Screening","gastroenterologist"],"articleBody":"Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States \u2014 yet with regular screening it is preventable.Early detection is key when treating colorectal cancer. Most people should begin receiving colon treatments by age 45, but patients with an increased risk due to family history or abnormal polyps may need treatment sooner. Talk to your doctor for more information on when you should begin receiving colon screenings.Puneet S. Basi, MD, gastroenterologist at UPMC Susquehanna, said patients often avoid or delay colonoscopies due to busy schedules:\u201cThe two most common reasons people put off having a colonoscopy are \u2018I can\u2019t take time off work,\u2019 and \u2018I don\u2019t want to go through the preparation process.\u2019\u201dNew direct referrals enable patients to both see a gastroenterologist and undergo a colonoscopy on the same day, making the screening process less time-intensive.RELATED: Know the Facts About Colon CancerIf you\u2019re experiencing any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor immediately:Bloody stoolFrequent stomach aches and crampsA change in bowel habits, including narrower stoolLosing weight without explanationConstipation or diarrhea without explanationRead Dr. Basi\u2019s full blog post for more information on the colonoscopy process.A world-renowned health care provider and insurer with Pennsylvania roots. Learn more about UPMC in the video below.function load_upmc_video_1_bvr3pp4y(obj,autoplay){window[\"autoplay_1_bvr3pp4y\"]=autoplay;let $this=$(obj),el=document.createElement(\"script\");$this.removeAttr(\"onmouseover\").removeAttr(\"onclick\").html(\"\");el.src=\"https:\/\/cdnapisec.kaltura.com\/p\/5687602\/embedPlaykitJs\/uiconf_id\/53926702\";document.body.appendChild(el);var waiting_1_bvr3pp4y=setInterval(function(){if(window[\"KalturaPlayer\"] !== undefined){clearInterval(waiting_1_bvr3pp4y);try{let kalturaPlayer=KalturaPlayer.setup({targetId:\"kaltura-video_1_bvr3pp4y_6a0e191950638\",provider:{partnerId:\"5687602\",uiConfId:\"53926702\"},playback:{autoplay:autoplay_1_bvr3pp4y}});kalturaPlayer.loadMedia({entryId:\"1_bvr3pp4y\"});}catch(e){console.error(e);}document.getElementById(\"kaltura-video_1_bvr3pp4y_6a0e191950638\").dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent(\"videoLoad\",{bubbles:true,detail:{\"selector\":\"kaltura-video_1_bvr3pp4y_6a0e191950638\",\"account_id\":\"5687602\",\"player_id\":\"53926702\",\"video_id\":\"1_bvr3pp4y\",\"autoplay\":\"autoplay_1_bvr3pp4y\"}}));}},10);}Editor's Note: This article was originally published on March 14, 2017, and was last reviewed on June 9, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2017","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"UPMC Susquehanna: Colon Screenings Save Lives","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/03\/colon-screenings-save-lives\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]