Northern Michigan's News LeaderHealthy Living: Rear View Camera

Healthy Living: Rear View Camera

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By Robyn Haines, Anchor - bio | email

In the next 12 months, 50,000 people will die from colorectal cancer. The worst part-most of these deaths could have been prevented if the cancer would have been detected sooner. Now, one doctor says a new-and-improved camera will change how colonoscopies are done for all of us, and as Robyn Haines reports, give doctors a better view to detect cancer before it becomes a killer.

 

When it comes to his health, john reed doesn't fool around. The 51 year old recently had his first colonoscopy. John is one of the first patients to use a new FDA approved device that gives doctors another view to the traditional colonoscopy. It's called third eye retroscope. A camera is snaked through five feet of your colon to detect polyps that could be an early sign of cancer.

 

The third eye fits through the traditional colonoscopy catheter.  Instead of just a forward facing camera, another tip comes through the catheter, revealing a backward facing camera with an LED light. If a polyp is found, it can be removed immediately during the procedure. A new study shows the device detects 41 percent more precancerous polyps for people who are at high risk, and 23 percent more in people not at risk.

 

It's recommended everyone start getting a colonoscopy at the age of 50. How often after that depends on your family history and cancer risk.