HOUSTON, TX -- (Marketwire) -- 03/14/13 -- The Bay Area Gastroenterology consultants remain committed to reducing the number of deaths from colorectal cancer -- speaking during March on the benefits of prevention and early screening in recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness month.

While the gastroenterology specialists work year round to educate patients on the benefits of early screening and the preventive steps to reduce risks for colon cancer, they're taking the opportunity to speak to the community and launch new awareness campaigns during Colorectal Cancer Awareness month.

Recently featured in Change magazine, Dr. Ravi Mani, a board certified gastroenterologist at Bay Area Gastroenterology, explains that while colon cancer is a preventable disease, it remains the second most common cancer in the U.S. and causes an estimated 60,000 deaths every year.

Dr. Mani and his colleagues hope that by educating the public on the dietary and lifestyle changes that can reduce risks, along with the screening options available today, this number will drop in the years to come.

Now along with a complete colonoscopy, a new Virtual Colonoscopy is providing a less invasive option and eliminating the need for sedation. The virtual colonoscopy creates a computer generated 3-D rendering of the colon without the use of a scope.

Among the first in the Bay area and greater Houston area to offer this new colon cancer screening technology, the group of board certified gastroenterology physicians also offer Sigmoidoscopy, which is similar to a colonoscopy but examines only the lower part of the colon, and a Fecal Occult Blood Test, which tests a stool sample to determine if there is bleeding within the digestive tract.

"We have a number of early screening options for patients. It has never been easier to identify precancerous polyps and completely prevent colon cancer from developing into a life threatening disease," said Dr. Mani.

"Unfortunately many believe if there are no symptoms, screening is unnecessary. But the vast majority have no symptoms and 70 percent of those diagnosed each year have no family history either," added Dr. Mani.

Colorectal screening is recommended for those 50 years old or older (age 45 for African Americans) and every ten years following that if no polyps or irregularities are found.

And according to a study published by the British Medical Journal, everyone can lower their risk of colorectal cancer by following healthy lifestyle habits and exercising more than 30 minutes a day.

The gastroenterology consultants are part of Bay Area Gastroenterology in Clear Lake, which was the first Houston gastroenterology and endoscopy practice to offer office based accredited Virtual colonoscopy screening. They specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of ailments of the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. The group offers virtual colonoscopy at their onsite, accredited Imaging Center.

Contact Bay Area Gastroenterology at www.Gibay.com to schedule a consult. Or call 281-480-6264 for more information.

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