The food we ingest every day works its way through our digestive tract, which starts in the mouth and goes through our esophagus, stomach, and intestines before reaching the rectum and going out through the anus. The colon, or lower intestine, has the job of absorbing the important nutrients we get from food and extracting its water before it leaves the body.
This organ, about five feet long and sitting in an inverted U shape in our abdomen, is three inches at its widest and just short of an inch at its narrowest, and includes the rectum and anal canal. Several diseases, such as diverticulitis, polyps, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and colon cancer, can damage the colon and cause several complications.
A colonoscopy plays an essential role in assessing the health of the colon. To stay ahead of intestinal illnesses, you should know when to get one done.
Dr. Eric Ibegbu and his experienced staff at Atlantic Medical Group offer several ways for residents of Kinston, Jacksonville, and Gastonia, North Carolina, to improve digestive health and prevent and treat disease, including diagnostic methods such as colonoscopy.
This diagnostic process uses a colonoscope, a thin tube inserted through the anus with a camera and light to help us examine what’s going on in your lower intestine. If it detects abnormalities such as polyps, it can remove them or take tissue samples for further testing.
While it can check for other intestinal problems, the primary reason for getting this test is to check for signs of colorectal cancer, which doesn’t show signs in its early stages, so you could have it and not even realize it. Getting this test is crucial to prevent digestive damage that can become fatal if not treated in time.
Estimates for this year show there will be around 108,860 new cases of colon cancer and 49,950 new cases of rectal cancer. This decline in incidence is largely due to colon cancer screening and lifestyle changes.
The process of a colonoscopy begins with the prep, which helps to clear the bowels and allow for a clearer picture of the colon. This generally consists of going on a low-fiber diet a few days prior, then a clear liquid diet the last day before. The night before the procedure, you’ll take a laxative formula to void your bowels as completely as possible.
Expect a lot of bathroom time that evening, so be prepared and try to get as much rest as possible. When you arrive for your colonoscopy the next day, you’ll change into a hospital gown, and an IV will be placed so we can administer anesthesia and medication.
While you’re resting, the colonoscope is placed inside, and the overall process takes about 45 minutes: about 15 minutes to move the device through your colon, another 15 minutes to bring it back out, and around 15 minutes to remove any abnormalities found.
Current guidelines from the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend starting screening around age 45 and having it done once every 10 years between ages 45 and 75.
Getting the test every one to five years may be necessary if you have had polyps removed during a previous colonoscopy, have a history of colon cancer, a family history of the illness, or diseases like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
Colon cancer can be dangerous to your long-term health, but with early detection and proper treatment, it doesn’t have to change how you live your life. Make an appointment with Dr. Ibegbu and the Atlantic Medical Group team today to assess your risks and get treatment for colon cancer and other digestive problems.
