Colorectal cancer or colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women of old age. So, when people turning age 50 or older, it’s important and advised to have a colonoscopy that could save their lives.
A colonoscopy is a screening that allows doctors to look for any polyps or growths inside the rectum and colon that could be cancerous or turn into cancer. The Colonoscopy procedure can prevent colon cancer by removing these pre-cancerous colon polyps immediately.
You are recommended to have a colonoscopy but unaware of it? Don’t worry. The best colonoscopy doctor at SMILES outlined some facts about colonoscopy you should know before going for it.
5 Must know facts about Colonoscopies
Here are the facts about colonoscopy to check out if you are concerned about colorectal cancer.
1. Colonoscopies save lives
The experts of coloproctology explain that colorectal cancer is curable and even preventable through colonoscopy screening. It is estimated that 80 to 90 percent of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented by removing polyps during a colonoscopy. Research studies suggest that regular colonoscopies for adults over 50 really do save lives.
2. Doesn’t take a long time
A colonoscopy is the endoscopic examination of the large intestine with a fiber optic camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus. Generally, undergoing a medical procedure can always sound like a long and scary, but a colonoscopy is not one at all. The whole process takes less than one hour to complete by considering the fact that the doctors are looking into one’s colon.
3. Colonoscopy preparation is not difficult
Preparing for a colonoscopy procedure requires a person following a liquid diet for one day before the procedure. Preparation also involves cleaning the colon with over the counter medications. These are usually laxatives that you must consume one day before the procedure. These laxatives flush out the colon so that the colonoscopy doctor will have a clear view of the colon to remove colon polyps.
4. It is a safe procedure
The colonoscopy is usually a safe procedure, especially when it is being done to screen for colon cancer. Still, there are risks that are lower than the risk of developing colon cancer. Sometimes the risks include heavy bleeding, tears in the colon, and inflammation in the colon.
5. Don’t have to be sedated
Even though the colonoscopy procedure is usually done when the patient is sedated, however, it is not necessary- say the best coloproctologist in Bangalore. This is very important to know for those who are allergic to the drugs so that they can request to have the colonoscopy procedure without the sedative drugs.
Waiting for abdominal pain or bleeding to have a colonoscopy? You might think that the colonoscopy procedure is going to be terrible. Don’t wait longer.
