Colonoscopy Screening

45 IS THE NEW 50 

If you are 45 years or older, believe it or not, it’s time to get a colonoscopy. Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the US and getting a colonoscopy is the very best way to screen for and prevent colon cancer. It’s not as bad as you think and The Oregon Clinic makes it easy. 

Putting off colon cancer screening could mean the difference between preventing colon cancer and a late-stage diagnosis. Schedule your colonoscopy with one of our Board Certified physicians today. 

WHAT TO EXPECT 

We get it; you don’t do this every day. Which is why we do everything we can to make screening easy on you. 

You’re taking an important step in assuring a healthy you, so we do everything possible to make you as comfortable with the process as can be. And because you have chosen a specialist to do your screening colonoscopy, you can be confident in the results. Colonoscopies generally take between 20-30 minutes to complete. Intravenous medications are used to make you feel relaxed, and most people sleep through the examination. The sedative medications wear off quickly and you will be fully awake within 10-15 minutes after the procedure. With your safety in mind, we require you to have a driver who can take you home afterward. 

Preparation

To ensure a clear viewing during your colonoscopy, steps are taken ahead of time. 

  • Limited Diet. Preparing for a colonoscopy starts days before your procedure. During this prep time, you may not eat any solid foods or consume any drinks or gelatin that contain red or purple dye. Clear liquids and broths are fine. Quick rule of thumb: if you can see through it, you can have it. 
  • Colon Cleansing. On the day before your colonoscopy, you’ll take a laxative to complete the cleansing process. Specific instructions will be given to you before the procedure. 

About the Procedure

Learn about colonoscopy screening, what to expect, and how to prepare. 

During your colonoscopy, our team puts your comfort at the top of their priority list. 

  • Sedation. Your anesthesia specialist will administer a sedative and monitor your vital signs. The anesthesia you receive will put you to sleep for the procedure. 
  • Screening. Once you are completely sedated, your doctor will slowly insert the colonoscope – a long tube with a small camera attached to the end. The tube also releases air to inflate your colon and give your doctor a clear view. If any growths or polyps are discovered, your doctor will remove or biopsy them. 

After the Procedure

  • Results. After your colonoscopy, the anesthesia will wear off quickly. Once you are fully awake, your doctor and team will share the findings of your screening with you. 
  • Recovery. You will be released soon after you’re awake and have talked to your doctor, but for your safety, we require a driver present to take you home. Resting at home for the remainder of the day is recommended. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Colonoscopy enables your doctor to examine the lining of your colon (large intestine) for abnormalities by inserting a flexible tube as thick as your finger into your anus and slowly advancing it into the rectum and colon. Please ask your doctor about anything you don’t understand. 

Your doctor will tell you what dietary restrictions to follow and what cleansing routine to use. In general, the preparation consists of either consuming a large volume of a special cleansing solution or clear liquids and special oral laxatives. The colon must be completely clean for the procedure to be accurate and complete, so be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. 

Colonoscopy and polypectomy are generally safe when performed by doctors who have been specially trained and are experienced in these procedures. One possible complication is a perforation, or tear, through the bowel wall that could require surgery. Bleeding might occur at the site of biopsy or polypectomy, but it’s usually minor. Bleeding can stop on its own or be controlled through the colonoscope; it rarely requires follow-up treatment. Some patients might have a reaction to the sedatives or complications from heart or lung disease. Although complications after colonoscopy are uncommon, it’s important to recognize early signs of possible complications. Contact your doctor if you notice severe abdominal pain, fever and chills, or rectal bleeding of more than one-half cup. Note that bleeding can occur several days after the procedure. 

Your physician will explain the results of the examination to you, although you’ll probably have to wait for the results of any biopsies performed. If you have been given sedatives during the procedure, someone must drive you home and stay with you. Even if you feel alert after the procedure, your judgment and reflexes could be impaired for the rest of the day. You might have some cramping or bloating because of the air introduced into the colon during the examination. This should disappear quickly when you pass gas. You should be able to eat after the examination, but your doctor might restrict your diet and activities, especially after polypectomy. 

Your doctor might destroy tiny polyps by fulguration (burning) or by removing them with wire loops called snares or with biopsy instruments. Your doctor might use a technique called “snare polypectomy” to remove larger polyps. That technique involves passing a wire loop through the colonoscope and removing the polyp from the intestinal wall using an electrical current. You should feel no pain during the polypectomy. 

Polyps are abnormal growths in the colon lining that are usually benign (noncancerous). They vary in size from a tiny dot to several inches. Your doctor can’t always tell a benign polyp from a malignant (cancerous) polyp by its outer appearance, so he or she might send removed polyps for analysis. Because cancer begins in polyps, removing them is an important means of preventing colorectal cancer. 

If your doctor thinks an area needs further evaluation, he or she might pass an instrument through the colonoscope to obtain a biopsy (a sample of the colon lining) to be analyzed. Biopsies are used to identify many conditions, and your doctor might order one even if he or she doesn’t suspect cancer. If colonoscopy is being performed to identify sites of bleeding, your doctor might control the bleeding through the colonoscope by injecting medications or by coagulation (sealing off bleeding vessels with heat treatment). Your doctor might also find polyps during colonoscopy, and he or she will most likely remove them during the examination. These procedures don’t usually cause any pain. 

Colonoscopy is well-tolerated and rarely causes much pain. You might feel pressure, bloating or cramping during the procedure. Your doctor might give you a sedative to help you relax and better tolerate any discomfort. You will lie on your side or back while your doctor slowly advances a colonoscope through your large intestine to examine the lining. Your doctor will examine the lining again as he or she slowly withdraws the colonoscope. The procedure itself usually takes 15 to 60 minutes, although you should plan on two to three hours for waiting, preparation and recovery. In some cases, the doctor cannot pass the colonoscope through the entire colon to where it meets the small intestine. Although another examination might be needed, your doctor might decide that the limited examination is sufficient. 

Most medications can be continued as usual, but some medications can interfere with the preparation or the examination. Inform your doctor about medications you’re taking, particularly anticoagulants (blood thinners) and insulin. Also, be sure to mention allergies you have to medications. 

Learn more about Gastroenterology at The Oregon Clinic