Isn't colon cancer screening embarrassing and painful?
While nobody thinks of colon cancer screening as fun, it’s not as bad as you may think. During screening, your doctor will use medication to sedate you so that you are not aware of the procedure. You won’t have much memory of it either. The screening typically lasts 15 to 30 minutes, so it will be over before you know it.
The preparation for colon cancer screening takes a little more work, but doctors and pharmacists have many options for medications to make sure your colon is clear of stool, ensuring a good screening. If you have had a bad experience with preparing for a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy in the past, ask your doctor for ways to make sure this goes more smoothly the next time around.
As for the embarrassment, just remember that your doctor and nurse perform hundreds and in some cases even thousands of these procedures each year. When they say, "we’ve seen it all before", you can take them at their word. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about taking care of your health!
To get ready for your next screening, you can learn more about How Not to Dread Colon Cancer Screening.Sources
Gastroenterology of the Rockies. Colonoscopy Pep Talk. Accessed January 26, 2009.
http://gastrorockies.org/English/Pep_Talk/What_Its_Like.html
American Cancer Society. Frequently Asked Questions About Colonoscopy and Sigmoidoscopy. Accessed: January 26, 2009.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6x_Frequent_Questions_About_Colonoscopy_and_Sigmoidoscopy.asp
