Colonoscopy Examinations are an Important Part of Your Health Care
Among the many tests used to screen for colon cancer is the colonoscopy.
What is a Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a test that doctors use to look for and remove adenomas and polyps, growths in the colon that if left untreated, may turn into colon cancer. This test is also used to screen for colon cancer itself.
How Do You Prepare for a Colonoscopy?
To prepare for this test, your doctor or nurse will give you instructions for the day or two before. This will involve taking laxatives or other medications and possibly a special diet. This clears the stool out of your colon so your doctor can see everything clearly during the test.
How Not to Dread Colon Cancer Screening provides detailed information on how to get ready for this test, along with tips for making this preparation easier.
What Happens During the Test?
During a colonoscopy, your doctor inserts a long, thin tube into your rectum and the full length of your colon. A colonoscopy is similar to a sigmoidoscopy, but it uses a longer instrument and lets your doctor see your whole colon. This is the advantage of a colonoscopy over a sigmoidoscopy—no part of your colon is left unexplored. Air or water will be put into your colon, as well, to allow for a better view.
Will I Be Sedated?
Your doctor will sedate you, or knock you out, during the procedure. This means you won’t feel a thing and you won’t remember the procedure, either. This makes this test much easier than most people imagine.
What Happens Next?
If your doctor finds any suspicious growths, he or she will remove them at that time. This colon tissue sample will be sent to a lab to check for cancer.
What are the Possible Complications of Colonoscopy?
A possible complication of this test is puncture of the colon, but thankfully, this is rare. If you have concerns about serious complications, such as a colon puncture, talk to your doctor.
You may have some gas pains or cramps after the test until the air leaves your colon. But most people find the test itself to be easy, because they don’t remember it!
You may see blood in your stool for a day or two after the test, but this is usually not serious. If in doubt, call your doctor.
Sources
American Cancer Society. After Diagnosis: Staging Colon and Rectum Cancer. Accessed: January 20, 2009.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_8_After_Diagnosis_Staging_Colon_and_Rectum_Cancer.asp
American Cancer Society: Learn about Colon and Rectum Cancer. Accessed: January 20, 2009.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2x.asp?sitearea=&dt=10
American Cancer Society. Should I Be Tested for Colon and Rectum Cancer? Accessed: January 15, 2009.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_8_Should_I_Be_Tested_for_Colon_and_Rectum_Cancer.asp
Halpern MT, Pavluck AL, Ko CY, Ward EM. Factors Associated with Colon Cancer Stage at Diagnosis. Dig Dis Sci 2009 Jan 1. [Epub ahead of print].
Medline Plus. Colorectal Cancer. Accessed: January 19, 2009.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/colorectalcancer.html
National Cancer Institute: Colon and Rectal Cancer. Accessed: January 20, 2009.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/colon-and-rectal
