Introduction to Colonoscopy Part I

 Colonoscopies are on the list of important medical check-ups for people over 50 years old. And, they may be the most dreaded and avoided of all the regular tests. The good news is we have met with a really terrific doctor at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital who gave us some wonderful information to make this test less stressful and more successful.

We thought that some background information about the reason for having a colonoscopy (co-lin-aws-cah-pee) and some basic information about the procedure would be useful before going into the preparation process. After some research we found an article that we thought described it very well. Excerpts from the website, coloncleansers.com, which we found through a Google search main is our source of information. 

“…There are many benefits to a colonoscopy” and since the test looks inside your colon, it can tell if there are any signs of concern …Your colon is your lower (or large) intestine. A colonoscopy is performed using a colonoscope, a flexible, fiber-optic cable connected to a small camera.”

“Your doctor may have several reasons for wanting to perform a colonoscopy.  Usually …it is used to screen for colorectal cancer.  You may be surprised to know that colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of deaths due to cancer, with lung cancer being the most common.  This kind of cancer often starts in small masses of cells called polyps on the walls of your colon.”

“While the polyps are small and are just starting to grow, there are typically no symptoms to speak of.  But over time, usually after five to ten years, these tiny polyps can turn into a cancerous growth.  It is recommended that people who are over the age of 50 have a colonoscopy once every five years, whether they have any symptoms or not.  Through a colonoscopy, your doctor can identify, locate, and remove any precancerous polyps that could be growing in your large intestine.”

“… The more anxious you are, the more difficult it will be for the operator to perform your colonoscopy.  To ensure that you remain as calm as possible, it is likely that your doctor will offer you sedatives to keep you relaxed, but not asleep. You will be lying on your left side throughout the colonoscopy.” 

Now we will take a little breather, let you absorb this information and invite you to read the real news, the great preparation ideas for your next colonoscopy.