Colonoscopy
Preparing for your Colonoscopy
A Colonoscopy is a necessary and effective procedure for detecting colorectal cancer and polyps. This document provides special instructions and tips to help you prepare for the procedure.
Colonoscopy Prep Document
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Maintaining Your Colorectal Health
A colonoscopy is considered to be the gold standard when it comes to colorectal cancer screenings and is recommended every 10 years. During a colonoscopy screening, your gastroenterologist will use a tiny camera to view your entire colon, checking for lesions, abnormalities, and polyps. If any are found during the screening, they are removed during the procedure and biopsied in pathology. This allows us to remove tissue that could have the potential to develop into cancer down the road.
The day before the test, you will be provided with a kit to help prepare and cleanse your colon for the screening. A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure done in our Endoscopy Suite at Sturdy Memorial Hospital. You are made comfortable and sedated during the procedure. Because of the sedation, someone needs to drive you home and be with you during recovery.
Other Screening Options
Highly Sensitive Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
This test can be done at home through a kit ordered by your doctor. From the samples collected, the test will look for hidden blood in your stool. This test must be done every year. If your results are positive, your doctor will have to test further.
Guaiac-Based Fecal Occult Blood Test (gFOBT)
This is another stool-based test that can be done at home. Your doctor can order the kit for you. This test looks for blood in the stool through a chemical reaction. If you opt for this screening, you’ll be advised to avoid certain medications and foods before completing the test, as they may affect the results. If the test comes back positive, your doctor will have to conduct further tests.
Multitargeted Stool DNA Test (MT-sDNA)
This test can be done at home through a kit provided by your doctor. The test looks for abnormal sections of DNA from cancer or polyp cells as they may be present in the stool. This test is recommended every three years. If the test is positive, your doctor will need to do a colonoscopy.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
This test can be done at home through a kit provided by your doctor. The test looks for abnormal sections of DNA from cancer or polyp cells as they may be present in the stool. This test is recommended every three years. If the test is positive, your doctor will need to do a colonoscopy.
