Schedule a Colonoscopy Before Year's End (to Maximize Your Deductible)

Since we are heading into the last few months of the year, now is a prudent season to assess the situation of your overall health and your wellness goals for the year to come. One way to help make sure you stay ahead of those goals could be to schedule a regular colorectal health screening with an expert gastrointestinal provider.

Even though there are other testing methods out there in regard to colon cancer screening, colonoscopy is one of the most efficient and reliable of all tests in the field. The specialists at Arizona Digestive Health regularly conduct colonoscopy screenings to give patients the opportunity to become aware of the signs of colorectal cancer early on and to provide care for related diseases affecting the colon. Keep reading to find out more about colonoscopy screenings with our Arizona gastroenterology providers.

Why is colonoscopy the preference for colon cancer screening?

Not only do they assist in evaluating for markers of cancer of the colon, a colonoscopy permits your doctor to inspect the overarching health of your colon and also excise any colon or rectal polyps they discover in the course of the exam.

Colonoscopy screenings may be advised for individuals at least 45 years old or for those who:

• Have a family history of bowel cancer
• Consume a diet low in fiber but high in calories and fat
• Suffer from certain inflammatory bowel conditions (including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) which are recognized to elevate one's chance of developing colon or rectal cancer
• Are part of certain ethnicities (African Americans are at a greater risk of being diagnosed with colon cancer than those from other ethnicities, though no ethnicity is immune.)

It's essential to talk with a digestive health expert to walk through your risk regarding cancer and when to schedule a colonoscopy.

When is the recommended time for me to undergo a colonoscopy?

In general, there is not a "right" or "wrong" time in your life to be proactive about the care of your health. Still, deductibles are typically reset with the majority of health insurance plans, on January 1, so if you have already met your deductible, now could be the perfect time to book a colonoscopy in Arizona, and keep your out-of-pocket costs down. If you're a member of a plan that has a flexible savings account (FSA), the end of the year is your chance to use up the remaining money that won't carry over into the next year.

Additionally, wrapping up any routine health screenings before January 1 can prepare you to start the new year confident that you're prioritizing your wellness needs.

Exactly how does a colonoscopy screening work?

Colonoscopy screenings are routine exams conducted in a private room either at your physician's practice location or a local endoscopy center. After arriving at the exam site and making preparations, you will lie on your side, and a member of our staff will give you intravenous sedation in small and controlled amounts to manage both your comfort and safety throughout the exam. Following your sedation, your Arizona Digestive Health GI provider will start the colonoscopy procedure by slowly inserting a scope via your rectum and up through the colon, checking your bowel health by way of the camera mounted inside the end of the device. Based on the findings of the colorectal screening, the procedure usually takes approximately 15 – 30 minutes.

Schedule your colonoscopy without delay

Cancer of the colon causes more than 50,000 deaths each year in the United States, but the odds of survival improve markedly if the cancer is recognized and combated early in its development. That's why it's imperative to enlist the help of a skilled colonoscopy specialist who has the skills to identify the warning signs of cancer and care for you if further treatments are required. With the resources of our physician-led network of gastrointestinal doctors available, the providers at Arizona Digestive Health are ready and willing to help you ring in a new year in which caring for your health is a top priority. For additional information regarding screenings for colon cancer or to talk with a provider specializing in colonoscopies in Arizona, we encourage you to get in touch with our GI team today.