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COURIER LIFE, MARCH 6-12, 2020 9
re you afraid of getting
a colonoscopy? If so,
you’re not alone. One of
the main reasons people avoid
getting this lifesaving exam is
because they think it will be
painful or embarrassing, according
to an American Cancer
Society study. But once patients
learn what is involved
in the procedure—and the
risks of not getting one—they
become more comfortable.
Colon cancer is highly preventable,
yet it’s on the rise
in younger populations. The
American Cancer Society
now recommends starting
screening at age 45 — earlier
if you have a family history of
colon cancer — based in part
on new data showing an increase
in rates of colorectal
cancer in people between the
ages of 20 and 55.
Let’s break down what happens
during a colonoscopy,
dispels some common fears
and misconceptions, and why
it’s important to get one.
It’s safe and pain-free.
During a colonoscopy, you
have a whole team by your side
to ensure your safety, which
may include a gastroenterologist,
an anesthesiology professional,
a nurse, and a technician.
This highly skilled team
is assembled to ensure your
comfort and safety during the
procedure.
Before your colonoscopy,
you are lightly sedated and
your vital signs will be monitored
during your procedure.
The sedation will allow you to
feel relaxed and comfortable.
Your gastroenterologist will
then insert into your rectum
a colonoscope — a thin, flexible,
hollow tube with a tiny
camera on the end — to view
the entire colon.
Many patients are so comfortable
that they do not even
realize the procedure was
completed.
Your body is completely
covered during the exam.
You don’t need to worry
about being embarrassed or
exposed during a colonoscopy.
You will wear a hospital
gown, and a sheet provides
extra covering. Rest assured
that, during the procedure,
your gastroenterologist will
be focused on a monitor displaying
the inside of your colon,
not on your backside.
It goes by quickly and you’ll
meet with your gastroenterologist
following the procedure.
A typical colonoscopy takes
approximately 30 minutes. If
polyps are found and need to
be removed, it may take longer.
Once the procedure is finished,
you slowly wake up. Then you
get dressed and meet with your
gastroenterologist, who will
tell you what they saw during
the colonoscopy. If a biopsy
was taken or a polyp removed,
your doctor will contact you in
a few days once the pathologist
reviews the tissue sample.
You can resume your normal
life within 24 hours.
You can eat and get back
to a somewhat normal routine
within an hour or two.
You may experience some gas
and abdominal bloating, but
that dissipates within several
hours. Be sure to arrange for
a ride to take you home, and
focus on resting for the rest of
the day. You can resume work
the next day.
Colonoscopy is the gold
standard in detecting and
preventing colon cancer.
While there are other
methods of screening for colorectal
cancer, such as stoolbased
tests that identify
hidden blood and genetic mutations
in the stool, a colonoscopy
is still the only diagnostic
and therapeutic procedure
to both screen and prevent
colorectal cancer.
Schedule your colonoscopy
at NewYork-Presbyterian
Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
today by calling 718-246-8600.
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