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​​Cancer Screening
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Colorectal cancer
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3rd most common cancer in the world
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2nd deadliest cancer in the world
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When found at an early stage there is a 90% 5-year survival versus at the advanced stage there is a 14% 5-year survival
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Up to 90% of polyps or tumours can be detected through colonoscopy screenings
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Screening colonoscopies for prevention of colorectal cancer /detection of early polyps can be booked directly with reception if you are:
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over the age of 50
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over the of age 40 with a family history of colorectal cancer (or 10 years earlier than the earliest case of colon cancer in the family)
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Please note that we also screen for gastric cancer if family history is present, and oesophageal and liver cancer in high-risk patients, and we can facilitate referrals for mammograms, ultrasounds, and CT scans if needed.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
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IBD is a chronic condition affecting the intestinal tract. There are two main types of IBD, namely Crohn’s disease which can affect the whole gastrointestinal tract, and ulcerative colitis which affects the colon only.
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Various therapies are available for these conditions and generally, surgery should be avoided unless complications arise.
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At Windhoek Digestive and Liver Disease Centre, we have both standard treatment regimens as well as newer biological agents for use in severe or complicated diseases.
Endoscopic Services
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We provide streamlined endoscopic services daily from Mondays to Friday
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Gastroscopies and colonoscopies can be performed as a screening for colorectal or gastric cancer, as well as for other problems. The screening can help your doctor:
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look for signs of cancer and other problems
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explore the cause of unexplained changes in bowel habits
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evaluate symptoms of abdominal pain or bleeding
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find a reason for unexplained weight loss, chronic constipation, or diarrhoea
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Gastroscopies and colonoscopies are a relatively safe and well-tolerated method of examining the stomach, colon, and a portion of the small intestine. The procedure is usually performed under conscious sedation and, in the case of a colonoscopy, after adequate preparation of the bowel. Alternative methods for examining the gastrointestinal tract include CT scanning or barium enema however these investigations are less accurate and do not allow for interventions such as biopsies or removal of polyps.
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What are the risks of having an endoscopic examination?
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The risks of the procedure are minimal and potential complications include:
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bleeding – less than 1/500 for polyp removal / less than 1/10 000 from biopsies
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perforation/puncture of the food pipe, stomach or bowel – less than 1/3000
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death due to colonoscopy – 1/25 000
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injury to surrounding tissues (eg spleen) – extremely rare
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sedation-related complications including drug allergy – extremely rare
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aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs –rare
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the rare possibility that polyps or other things may be missed, or that the procedure may be technically difficult and unable to be completed, particularly if there is poor preparation
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NB The risk of not having the procedure (missed cancer) may significantly exceed the risks from the procedure
Liver Disease
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Liver disease is often silent and can be due to many causes. In Africa, the main causes are viruses (Hepatitis B and C), fatty liver, alcohol misuse and more rarely autoimmune disease.
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If you have been diagnosed with any chronic liver disease or found to incidentally have abnormal liver tests, then it is important that you are assessed and treated appropriately to prevent long-term complications.
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These underlying diseases can cause ongoing damage to the liver and result in cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a scarred, damaged liver which no longer functions normally. This places patients at risk of liver failure and liver cancer.