A colonoscopy is one of the best options when it comes to detecting colon cancer early. But maybe you think it’s painful or the prep is the worst, which isn’t necessarily the case. Avera gastroenterologist, Towner Lapp, MD dispels some of these myths.
At what age should someone get a colonoscopy?
For a normal risk individual we recommend age 45 to start screening for colon cancer with a colonoscopy. Higher risk individuals may be sooner but they can discuss with their physician to determine that risk.
Is a colonoscopy painful?
A colonoscopy is typically not painful as a vast majority of our patients receive sedation and so they are sleeping during the procedure?
Is it unnecessary without symptoms?
Even without symptoms colonoscopies are essential for colon cancer screening. When someone is asymptomatic we do a colonoscopy to look for polyps or precancerous growths to remove them before they have an opportunity to turn to cancer.
Is the prep really that bad?
People tolerate it well and we usually ask patients to use a clear, liquid diet the day before prior to their bowel prep the evening of and then they can eat after the procedure is complete.
Is a polyp cancer?
Patients think a polyp is a cancer when in fact it is a harmless growth or maybe precancerous. That’s one of the reasons we do a colonoscopy is to remove them before they have the opportunity to turn to cancer.
