WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE A COLONOSCOPY

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Colonoscopy: Facts You Probably Didn't Know

What is a Colonoscopy?

Why is a Colonoscopy Performed?

Who Should Get a Colonoscopy?

Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors

Preparing for a Colonoscopy

What Happens During a Colonoscopy

What Should you Expect After a Colonoscopy?

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Facts You Probably Didn’t KnowWithin this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about a colonosco-py, why they’re important and what to expect when you get one. If you have any questions or concerns regarding colorectal cancer and colonoscopies for you or a loved one, feel free to call one of our offices.

COLORECTAL CANCER is the#2 cause of cancer death

in the United States

IT IMPACTS OVER 135,000

PEOPLE PER YEAR

AND CAUSES MORE THAN 50,000

DEATHS

The lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is approximately 1 in 25 for both men and women in the United States.

DOCTORS RECOMMEND THAT ALL ADULTS OVER 45 UNDERGO

A COLONOSCOPY ROUTINELY

90% OF COLON CANCERIS PREVENTABLE

Insurance screening benefits cover most colonoscopies after age 50 currently.

What is a Colonoscopy?

Why is a Colonoscopy Performed?

Colonoscopy is a diagnostic test that lets your doctor look at the interior lining of your large intestine (your colon and rectum) through a thin, flexible viewing instrument called a colonoscope.

A physician will perform a colonoscopy to:

Examine the large intestine for problems and to help determine potential causes of abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, chronic constipation, and persistent diarrhea

Screen for polyps (tissue growths in the colon) to prevent colon cancer

Detect and remove any additional polyps in patients that have had polyps before to reduce the risk of colon cancer

Investigate the cause of iron deficiency anemia (a lowered blood count stemming from the loss of iron)

Colonoscopy is useful for identifying and removing colon polyps and also for detecting colon cancer, diverticular disease, and colitis.

Colonoscopy can be used as a screening test (colon screening) to identify and remove precancerous growths in the colon or rectum.

Who Should Get a Colonoscopy?

Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors

Although colorectal cancer can affect people in any age group, your chances of receiving a colorectal cancer diagnosis increase progressively after age 45.

A personal history of:

• Colitis • Intestinal polyps • Breast, uterine, or organ cancer

A family history of:

• Colorectal cancer and polyps

OVER 90% of colorectal cancer patientsare over 50-years old.

90%

For more than 15 years, the doctors at Digestive Disease Consultants

have worked alongside Palm Endoscopy Center to performmore than 100,000life saving procedures.

If you experience any of the following common symptoms of colorectal cancer you may want to consider having a colonoscopy:

Rectal bleeding

Fluctuations in your bowels like chronic constipation or diarrhea

Abdominal discomfort and weight loss (indicators of an advanced stage of colon cancer)

COLORECTAL CANCER HAS A 92% SURVIVAL

RATE IF DETECTED EARLY ON

Many polyps and early-stage cancers do not cause any symptoms making it imperative that you incorporate a colonoscopy into your routine physicals after the age of 45.

If you have a parent or sibling that has had colon cancer or polyps, it is a good idea to begin your colon cancer screening when you reach 40-years old.

Empty your bowels

Ways to clean out your colon

To clean out your colon, your physician may ask you to:

Limit your intake of high fiber foods three days prior to colonoscopy

Refrain from eating solid food the day before the procedure

Use a laxative the night before your exam and/or the morning of your colonoscopy

Adjust your medication — it is essential that your doctor be aware of any medicines you are taking especially for diabetes, high blood pressure or heart problems (such as blood thinners)

Before undergoing a colonoscopy, you will need to empty your colon completely. Any residual content in your colon obscures the viewing process and increases the chances your doctor may miss irregularities during the exam.

What Happens During a Colonoscopy?

Colonoscopy is generally performed in your physician’s ambulatory surgery center which is fully equipped and designed for the procedure.

You’ll be sedated for the colonoscopy, so you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home as you may feel sleepy or dizzy after the exam.

The procedure lasts about 20 minutes but may take longer if polyps are found and need to be removed.

The ProcedureDuring the colonoscopy, you will:

1. Lie on your side with your knees close to your waist.2. Be covered with a sheet.3. Be monitored by our anesthesia provider for your safety and comfort.4. If a polyp is detected, it is removed and sent for analysis by our pathologist.

The Colonoscope

After your exam

The colonoscope is a specially-designed thin flexible tube-like instrument that is inserted into your rectum and through the entire length of the Colon.

A light and a video camera on its tip allows direct visualization of the inner lining of the colon for diagnostic, therapeutic purposes.

After your exam, you’ll rest in a recovery room, closely monitored by a nurse until the sedative wears off.

IS A SAFE PROCEDURECOLONOSCOPYWITH A RARE INCIDENCEOF COMPLICATIONS

What Should you Expect After aColonoscopy?Your physician will go over the results of your colonoscopy with you, or a designated adult of your choice.

A negative outcome:

A positive outcome:

If no irregularities were found in your colon, your colonoscopy isconsidered negative.

If suspect tissue or polyps were found in your colon, a colonoscopyis deemed positive.

The majority of polyps are not cancerous, however, some mayrepresent the warning signs of cancer. The polyps extracted during colonoscopy are analyzed under a microscope to conclude if they aremalignant or benign.

Scheduling your next exam:

The size, characteristics, and the number of polyps will determineif you will be required to undergo a more frequent and comprehensive future screening regimen.

5 Years

1-5 Years

3 Months -1 Year

Depending on your other general risk levels for colon cancer, if just a benign polyp is found (less than half an inch in diameter),

you may only need to repeat the procedure in 5 years.

If larger or more numerous polyps are discovered with particularfeatures under the microscope, your doctor may call for a repeat

colonoscopy in one to five years.

If your physician removes one or more cancerous polyps during your colonoscopy, you could need a second exam in just three months

to a year.

Our Physicians

Our Offices

Barry R. Katz, M.D. Harry H. Shephard, M.D

Altamonte Springs623 Maitland Ave, Suite 2200Altamonte Springs, FL 32701

(407) 830-8661

Oviedo

8000 Red Bug Lake Road, Suite 226Oviedo, FL 32765(407) 830-8661

Raaj K. Popli, M.D.

Sanjay K. Reddy, M.D.

Lake Mary 1355 South International Parkway, Suite 1461

Lake Mary, FL 32746(407) 830-8661

Hanna R. Agard, MSN, APRN

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