What is a colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a procedure that allows a doctor to look inside your colon/large intestine, using a thin flexible tube with a light and camera called an endoscope. If the doctor sees a polyp or unusual growth during the procedure, he or she can take a biopsy to be viewed by a pathologist.
The procedure helps a doctor diagnose early signs of colon cancer, as well as remove polyps or growths to prevent them from becoming cancerous.
How common is colon cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, colon and rectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women in the United States.
Both the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and the death rate have been dropping in both men and women for several decades, though, in part due to increased screenings. That’s good news.
When should I have a colonoscopy?
All men and women over age 45 should be screened, at least every 10 years.
If you have risk factors, such as a family history of colon cancer or a condition affecting your colon (for example, a history of polyps or an inflammatory bowel disease, like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease), your doctor may order a colonoscopy earlier than age 45 or more often than every 10 years.