The importance of getting a colonoscopy

There are some things that no person wants to experience in life and getting a colonoscopy is high up on that list. Colonoscopies, however, are extremely helpful when determining the health of your colon. The earlier you get one, the better. Colonoscopies are usually recommended by doctors after a patient turns 50 years old due to an increased risk of colon cancer, but recent guidelines from the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends beginning testing at 45. You can learn more about these recommendations here.

Colonoscopies are primarily used for detecting and preventing the development of colorectal cancers. Colorectal cancers are silent cancers that do not typically produce symptoms until the cancer is advanced, according to WebMD. Having a colonoscopy done early gives you the knowledge you need to be healthy and stay healthy. As Carol Burke, MD told The Cleveland Clinic: “if you’ve got a colon, you’re at risk.”

Now you know why a colonoscopy is important, but maybe you do not want to clear out your intestines just yet. There are alternatives to colonoscopies including Fecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) and CT colonography. Medical News Today describes FIT as a non-invasive procedure that involves using antibodies to detect traces of blood. It is a cheaper alternative but does require more frequent testing (at least once every two years). It is important to note that if the FIT detects blood a doctor will recommend a colonoscopy. A CT colonography still requires you to clear your colon and involves inflating your colon with air to get an accurate image from the CT machine. Knowing that alternatives exist is good, but doctors refer to a colonoscopy as a “gold standard,” according to The Cleveland Clinic because it can detect colorectal cancers with 95% accuracy. Now go call your doctor and eat a light dinner!

The Mayo Clinic has a short video with information on colonoscopies here.

Author: Bret Reynolds, OEM Exchange
Published: January 15, 2021