Overview
Colonoscopy plays a crucial role in preventive healthcare, particularly in identifying and removing pre-cancerous polyps before they develop into colorectal cancer. Additionally, it aids in the early detection and management of conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and diverticular disease. By undergoing regular colonoscopies as recommended by your healthcare provider, you can take proactive steps towards safeguarding your digestive health and overall well-being.
A colonoscopy is a procedure that looks into your colon, which is a large intestine. It is useful for identifying gastrointestinal illnesses such colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. Colon cancer can be treated and prevented with its aid. To test for cancer, doctors advise middle-aged and older persons to get routine colonoscopies.
What is a colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a procedure used to see into the large intestine, which contains the colon, rectum, and anus. It is a form of endoscopy, which uses a flexible tube with a lit camera introduced into your body as the instrument.
For various bodily parts, there are many types of endoscopes. The colonoscope enters your colon during a colonoscopy by going into your rectum and anus. It transfers images of the interior of your big intestine to a screen along the way.
Why do I require a colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy can be therapeutic, diagnostic, or preventive, and frequently it is all three. If you have a statistically increased chance of developing colorectal cancer, your healthcare practitioner can suggest that you get a colonoscopy for routine cancer screening. The greatest approach to prevent colorectal cancer is through screening because it can strike anyone at any time without prior notice or symptoms. Your gastroenterologist may remove worrisome tissues during screening for testing and prevention.
Screening : For routine cancer screening, the majority of people will undergo their first colonoscopy. Because colorectal cancer risk increases statistically with age, the American Cancer Society advises routine screening beginning as least at age 45. It's advisable to get checked even if you have no reason to believe you are at increased statistical risk for colorectal cancer. The signs of colorectal cancer frequently don't appear until the disease is too advanced to be adequately treated.
Symptoms that might require a colonoscopy include:
✶ Fever
✶ Unexplained rectal bleeding or discharge
✶ Unexplained changes in your bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation or incontinence
✶ Unexplained weight loss or lack of weight gain in children
Diseases or conditions that a colonoscopy might help diagnose include:
✶ Chronic colitis, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
✶ Diverticulosis and diverticulitis
✶ Colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer
What does an colonoscopy treat?
One benefit of endoscopic procedures like colonoscopy is that if your endoscopist finds a problem during the procedure, they might be able to treat it at the same time. Endoscopists receive training to perform minor procedures with special tools that they pass through the endoscope.
During your colonoscopy, the endoscopist can:
✶ Remove polyps (polypectomy)
✶ Seal wounds
✶ Inject medications
✶ Treat tissues with laser therapy.
Meet With Our Professors
