Colonoscopy
colonoscopy is a screening test for colorectal cancer (CRC). This is a cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum. Both are a part of the large intestine. The colon absorbs water and nutrients from food and stores the waste, which becomes poop. It then moves from your colon into your rectum before leaving the body.
Symptoms of colon cancer include a change in bowel habits (often constipation), blood in your stool, a feeling that your bowel isn't emptying, and persistent cramps or gas. Symptoms can also include weight loss, pencil-thin stools, weakness, and fatigue. However, by the time you experience symptoms, the cancer is usually quite advanced.
The American Cancer Society says about 150,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2020 and 53,000 people will die from the disease. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related death for both men and women. However, if it is caught early, colorectal cancer has a 90% survival rate.
With a colonoscopy, your doctor can see inside your entire colon and rectum. They will use a flexible, hollow, lighted tube about the thickness of a pen called a colonoscope. It has a tiny video camera on the end. Your doctor will gently push the tube inside your colon and take pictures along the way. They will pump small amounts of air inside your colon to keep it open while the tube is in place. The doctor will be looking for polyps (small growths on the colon) that could turn into cancer with enough time. If they find any, they can remove them while they're doing the exam.
This is why it's important for a patient to have a clean colon before the exam so that the doctor can get a clear look at what's going on inside. The exam takes around half an hour.
Your doctor may recommend your first colonoscopy at age 45, because most people who get colorectal cancer are older than this. But, if you have a close relative (like a parent, sibling, or child) who has had colorectal cancer, or if you’re African-American, you may be advised to start earlier (African-Americans are more susceptible to the disease). The good news is that you only need to do this test once every 10 years, unless the doctor finds any polyps the first time. Then you might need to have your second colonoscopy within 3 to 5 years.
