Colonoscopy Specialist

What is a colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a flexible tube moves through your large intestine, using an internal camera as it goes to collect pictures. The screening produces detailed images of your large intestine, providing a view that helps with early detection and diagnosis.

A colonoscopy is mainly a diagnostic tool, but if your doctor finds problems like polyps (precancerous growths) during your colonoscopy, they can remove them immediately. They can also remove small tissue samples (a biopsy) to analyze in the lab.

When might I need a colonoscopy?

There are two main reasons that you might need a colonoscopy, including: 

Colon cancer screening

A colonoscopy is the most common method of colon cancer screening. Colon cancer is the second-most common cause of cancer-related deaths among Americans today. About 80% of people who develop colon cancer have no symptoms at their diagnosis.

During a colonoscopy, your doctor can identify the early forms of colon cancer. They can also find and remove polyps, which can eventually evolve into cancer if left alone. Early diagnosis allows you to treat the disease early when treatment works best.

Disease diagnosis

If you have ongoing problems like abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, or other problems, you might need a colonoscopy to find the root cause of the problems.

A colonoscopy provides a clear view of the area where your symptoms most likely originated, making a correct diagnosis easier.

Most people have colonoscopies for cancer screening around every 10 years. You could need colonoscopies more frequently if you have a history of precancerous polyps, colon cancer, or other intestinal problems. Diagnostic colonoscopies are done as needed.

How can I get ready for a colonoscopy?

The Gastroenterology Group gives you all the colonoscopy prep guidelines a couple days before your scheduled colonoscopy. You need completely clean bowels during a colonoscopy, so you’ll use several preparation methods to achieve this in the days before the procedure.

Generally, your prep includes:

• Drinking a clear-liquid diet
• Taking medications to empty your bowels
• Taking medication to combat stomach gas

You might also need to reduce or skip certain medications; the instructions will let you know which these are.

The Gastroenterology Group offers colonoscopies with no prior appointment required through its Open Access Program. These are strictly for non-symptomatic screenings. Call the office now or click on the online booking tool to find out if you qualify.