If you feel a lump in your anus, seeing your primary care physician or family doctor might not be enough. If you want to receive top-notch medical care for your difficulties down there, you need to see a specialist.
There is a misconception that a proctologist only deals with hemorrhoids. This is simply not the case. A proctologist also specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions that affect the rectum, anus, and colon. Here are the most common reasons why you need a proctologist in your life:
You’re over 50.
According to the American Cancer Society, you need to have a colonoscopy done by a proctologist every 10 years once you turn 50. Even if you’re healthy and you don’t have a family history of colon cancer, it’s time to book your appointment with a proctologist. Doing this can detect colon cancer at an early stage. Any suspicious polyps found during a colonoscopy can be removed before it develops into cancer.
You have a personal and family history.
If you have a personal history of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease, or if an immediate family member has colon cancer, you are considered a “high risk” for colon cancer. Therefore, colonoscopy screening should start as early as 40, and should be done every 3 to 5 years.
You hurt down there.
If you experience pain and itchiness, and you have bleeding in your anus, then something is definitely amiss. You need to consult with the best Los Angeles proctologist to determine if you have hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or something else entirely.
Once a diagnosis has been made by our proctologist at the Institute, we will discuss the best treatment option for you. As much as possible, we use the least invasive form of treatment to make the whole process as convenient and comfortable as possible.