GIS Q&A - Dr. James Hobley: Can gastrointestinal cancers be prevented?
Preventing gastrointestinal cancers begins with preventive care. A colonoscopy is a preventive measure that can actually find polyps and remove them before they become a cancer, thus preventing colon cancer. Similarly, we can have other areas in the body, such as the esophagus, where we may find Barrett’s esophagus, which is a precancerous condition. If we find that condition, we have things we can do that would enable us to treat that and prevent cancer. It’s very important to have screening done early and detection sooner.