Colonoscopy is a common screening test that’s used to detect polyps—growths that can become cancer—as well as colorectal cancer. While a colonoscopy may not be the most pleasant test you’ll ever have, most people will only need one every 10 years. Your doctor can remove polyps, if you have any, during the same procedure. Once you make the appointment, here’s what you can expect.
Preparing for a Colonoscopy
Before a colonoscopy, you’ll receive instructions on how to cleanse your bowel for the exam. For example, your doctor may recommend taking laxatives, so it’s a good idea to stay home, so you’re near a bathroom. This is often done the night before the procedure.The prep should be painless, but may be uncomfortable. It is most important that you follow the instructions your doctor provides. If there’s still stool, your doctor may have a hard time seeing the inside of your colon clearly, and your procedure may be postponed.
During a Colonoscopy
You’ll have a colonoscopy performed in a hospital or an outpatient center. A typical colonoscopy takes about 30 to 60 minutes. The procedure is most often done under conscious sedation. This means you’ll receive a pain reliever and a sedative before the procedure. You’ll be able to communicate during the colonoscopy, but the medicine helps keep you relaxed and reduces pain and discomfort. It also may have a temporary amnesia effect, so you may not remember the procedure even though you are not completely asleep.During the procedure, you’ll lie on your side on a table. Your doctor will insert a special tool, called a colonoscope, into your rectum and guide it into your colon.
The colonoscope has a camera that sends a video image of your bowel to a monitor. If your doctor finds any polyps during the procedure, he or she may remove them and send them to a lab for testing.
If your doctor sees any abnormalities during the procedure, he or she may remove small pieces of tissue and send them to a pathologist for examination.