America’s Got Talent judge Heidi Klum recently took some memorable photos that weren’t taken of her — but of her colon. And she’s using it to raise awareness about the importance of colon cancer screening. The 49-year-old recently shared during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” that she underwent a colonoscopy while celebrating her wedding anniversary with her husband, German guitarist Tom Kaulitz. NON-HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA: WHAT IS THE CANCER SAYING JANE FONDA HAS? She has a type of migraine known as cluster headaches — so the couple went to a health retreat in Austria. “I usually take my picture outside, but they were all in there,” Klum told comedian Nicole Byer, who was the guest host for the late-night show two weeks ago. Heidi Klum is married to musician Tom Kaulitz. He discussed the recent test he had to take to screen for colon cancer. (Getty Images) He learned that the intestine is 8 meters long, but admitted that “the pictures didn’t come out that well.”
What is a colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a screening test that is often performed by a doctor who specializes in the gastrointestinal tract. The test is done on a person who has no symptoms to look for an illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “There are many ways to screen for colon cancer, including colonoscopy, stool exams and imaging (virtual colonography),” said Dr. Avinash Ketwaroo, a gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine in Connecticut. “Colonoscopy has the advantage of allowing precancerous polyps to be detected and removed during the same procedure.” Almost all colorectal cancer develops from abnormal growths in the colon or rectum, which are known as precancerous polyps, according to the CDC. The health agency noted that a colonoscopy will show if precancerous polyps are present — so they can be removed before they have a chance to turn into cancer. Heidi Klum discussed her recent colonoscopy. Doctors say it’s generally safe and well-tolerated by most patients — and it’s a critical screening tool. (James Devaney/GC Images) “Colonoscopy has the advantage of allowing the detection and removal of precancerous polyps during the same procedure and therefore can prevent colon cancer,” said Dr. David Greenwald, director of clinical gastroenterology and endoscopy at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. York.
The benefits outweigh the risks for most people
Greenwald told Fox News Digital that a colonoscopy is generally safe and well tolerated with minimal risks, although there are some complications you should be aware of before consenting to the procedure. These include sedation-related complications and bleeding risks as well, “estimated to occur in about one in 1,000 operations.” “For colonoscopy, the benefits of colon cancer detection and prevention are significant and far outweigh the risks.” Because a vaccine passes through the colon, another rare complication is “perforation, or a hole in the bowel, which occurs in about one in 3,000 to 1 [in] 5,000 procedures’. Greenwald said that “all medical procedures have risks. For colonoscopy, the benefits of detecting and preventing colon cancer are significant and far outweigh the risks.”
Don’t worry about “preparation”
However, many patients are cautious about colonoscopy because the colon must be cleaned of stool. Preparation requires frequent trips to the bathroom before the procedure. “Preparing for a colonoscopy is often considered the worst part of the procedure — comedians have done entire routines about just that,” Greenwald added. Although other screening tests are available to detect polyps, a colonoscopy is needed later to remove them if a polyp is detected during the test. (iStock) “However, newer and better-tasting preparation solutions are available, and it is possible to achieve complete colonoscopy preparation with lower fluid volumes than previously thought.” And when the “prepping” is done — with that smaller liquid volume and better tasting solutions — it’s generally “not as bad as people expect it to be,” Greenwald noted. But some people would rather just opt for a less invasive screening approach.
Stool exams and other screenings
Greenwald told Fox News Digital that although there are other screening tests to detect polyps, a colonoscopy must be done later to remove them if a polyp is found. Some less invasive screening tests are stool-based tests that look for blood in the stool, such as the FIT or fecal immunochemical test, he added. “Colonoscopy remains the most effective way to reduce your overall risk of colon cancer.” These tests are generally done annually. a patient receives a test kit and uses a swab or brush to obtain one or more small stool samples, according to the CDC. NEW STUDY SUGGESTS ALCOHOL AND SMOKING CAUSE ALMOST HALF OF ALL GLOBAL CANCER DEATHS The samples are then returned to a laboratory, where they are tested for the presence of blood. Another type of stool test is known as the FIT-DNA test that looks for both blood in the stool and “abnormal pieces of DNA that may be shed from polyps or cancer,” which is known commercially as Cologuard, Greenwald noted. In this picture released on May 17, Heidi Klum attends the 2021 MTV Movie and TV Awards: UNSCRIPTED in Los Angeles, California. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images) This test, which is done once every three years, requires the patient to collect a complete bowel movement, which is then sent to a lab to look for “altered DNA” and for the presence of blood, according to the CDC. “Colonoscopy remains the most effective way to reduce your overall risk of colon cancer,” Ketwaroo said. “It allows us to find precancerous polyps and remove them and detect colon cancer earlier when it’s easier to treat.” NEW STUDY SUGGESTS YOU SHOULD STOP EATING ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS It is a more efficient “one-step approach” compared to the “two-step approach with stool-based testing, where if the stool test is abnormal, the second step, a colonoscopy, is then necessary to complete ongoing testing” , Greenwald added.
When should you have a repeat colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is generally recommended every 10 years for people at average risk according to national guidelines, Greenwald noted. However, stool tests need to be done more frequently to be as effective. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Klum admitted she was “a little late to the party” to get a colonoscopy because she’s turning 50. “Recently, the recommended age to take the first screening test has been lowered to 45 from 50,” Ketwaroo said. “This reflects the growing awareness of younger patients [having] colon cancer.” Klum said her colonoscopy was normal. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP But if a colonoscopy shows precancerous polyps — then, depending on the type of polyp, “a shorter interval, often three or five years, is necessary when colon polyps are detected on the initial exam,” Greenwald noted. “Patients who have colon polyps once are at greater risk of developing colon polyps later and need more intensive monitoring.”
