How Can a Routine Colonoscopy Exam Help Save Your Life?

We do a number of jobs every day to maintain our wellness, including cleaning our teeth, eating our vegetables, and exercising. But there’s one thing that often gets neglected that could truly protect our lives — a colonoscopy. This life-saving screening can detect and prevent cancer, inflammatory intestinal conditions, and additional ailments. At Arizona Digestive Health, we recommend having a colon and rectal cancer screening every ten years unless suggested otherwise. Our board-certified gastrointestinal (GI) doctors commonly carry out colonoscopies for Phoenix, AZ patients.

What is a colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is an exam of the colon and rectum that is performed to discover variations and/or irregularities that could be or turn cancerous. To perform this 30 to 60-minute test, a gastrointestinal specialist will insert a scope into the colon to look for any indicators of colon and rectal cancer or other problems. Colonoscopies are frequently advised as a technique to:

• Screen for colon and rectal cancer
• Check for polyps (tissue growths that can become cancerous if ignored)
• Discern the reason for blood in stool, intestinal discomfort, chronic obstruction or diarrhea, or different ailments

At Arizona Digestive Health, we normally recommend that you visit a colonoscopy specialist at age 45 and go back every ten years for general exams. Though, contingent on your findings or if you have a family history of colon and rectal cancer, we may advise you to get screened sooner and more frequently.

What about a home colorectal cancer screening?

Many individuals now wonder as to the reason a colonoscopy is necessary when there are innovations in home exams. The simple response is our GI specialists can obtain a more complete picture of any unusual or precancerous concerns over a home stool specimen kit. While some individuals elect to employ these at-home tests, they in no way should be a substitute for a colonoscopy procedure.

An at-home screening, for instance, cannot locate any growths that have formed in the colon. They may show particular signs of cancer, but the reality is a colonoscopy can discover indicators of cancer much sooner and more accurately than a home kit. At-home screenings are also not able to detect inflammatory bowel issues.

Why are colonoscopies crucial?

Some people do feel that colonoscopies are invasive. However, the lifesaving effects of this exam can greatly exceed any awkwardness it may generate. It’s crucial to stress how necessary these procedures can be, specifically for women and men with a family history of colorectal cancer. Many people with colon or rectal cancer show no indications in the course of the early stages and might not even know they have the condition.

Several simple reasons to consider making an appointment for a colonoscopy include:

• Despite popular belief, the preparation for a colonoscopy is not that bad.
• These procedures are quick and typically comfortable.
• While you might tend to feel embarrassed, your GI specialist is not.
• Simply put, a colonoscopy might protect your life.
• They are the most effective colon and rectal cancer screening.

Further, a colonoscopy can detect significantly more than cancer. It can also verify inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's, as well as diverticulosis. Like colon and rectal cancer, when detected early, these issues can be addressed and more harm can be prevented.

Schedule a colonoscopy in Phoenix, AZ today

Even though you might believe there’s no need for a colonoscopy, this test can protect your life. A colonoscopy can identify initial markers of colon cancer, and it can also detect ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, and other illnesses. This straightforward screening may be the critical factor between life and death, as our Phoenix, AZ gastrointestinal specialists are professionally trained to search for early markers of cancer and other concerns that might hinder future cancer development. For additional information on colonoscopies at Arizona Digestive Health, we urge you to contact our GI team today.