How to Know if You Need a Colonoscopy

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What Are the Signs That Yous Should Have a Colonoscopy?

If you're worried about bowel or colorectal cancer you should see your general practitioner (GP) for advice and health intendance. If he or she believes information technology's warranted, your doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon who will perform a colonoscopy.

Colorectal cancer is usually slow-growing (1) and often no symptoms are evident in the early stages. However, the most common symptoms of bowel cancer include the following:

• Rectal bleeding
• Modify in bowel habits including loose stools (diarrhoea) constipation or narrower than normal stools.
• Abdominal pain
• Feeling like your bowel isn't emptying completely
• Tummy hurting or cramps, bloating
• Sudden weight loss
• Inexplicable fatigue or tiredness (Anaemia)

If you lot have any of these colorectal cancer symptoms, see your doctor at your earliest convenience to discuss your health care. Your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy.

What exactly is a colonoscopy?

During the colonoscopy, which takes just 20-30 minutes, you are anaesthetised (with light anaesthetic) so y'all experience no pain. Your gastroenterologist inserts a very tiny video camera called a 'colonoscope' attached to a long, flexible tub and passes information technology into your large intestine (colon).

Carbon dioxide or air is and so passed into your colon to distend the bowel and provide improve visualization of the colon lining – and your physician then takes tissue samples and searches for abnormalities such equally polyps. If found, tissue samples or biopsies will exist taken from the polyps for further testing and usually, the polyps are removed as a precaution.

Note: Generally Twenty-four hours Hospitals won't allow y'all to bulldoze after your process then arrange for someone to drive you lot home considering yous may be too drowsy.

When should yous have a colonoscopy?

Cancer is non the but disease that causes the symptoms outlined higher up, however, rectal haemorrhage should never exist ignored. Then if you notice whatsoever of the signs, peculiarly blood in the stools, it's wise to consult your doctor for wellness care and advice and for a possible colonoscopy to rule out colon cancer.

What is colon cancer?

Colon cancer (or bowel cancer) begins in the big intestine which is at the terminate of the digestive tract. This type of cancer usually affects older people, though it tin occur in people of any age. Colon cancer unremarkably starts every bit pocket-sized clusters of benign (non-cancerous) cells known as polyps inside the colon. These produce few if any symptoms but tin become cancerous over time.

During a colonoscopy, these polyps can be removed thus reducing the take chances of them condign malignant.

Should I exist worried about having a colonoscopy?

If your doctor or gastroenterologist has recommended that you lot have a colonoscopy, at that place'south no need to be worried at all. You'll be sedated and won't feel a thing. Nearly people say preparing for the colonoscopy is manageable and easier than undergoing the process itself.

How to Ready for a Colonoscopy

Before performing a colonoscopy, your gastroenterologist needs to know nearly your health history and other conditions such as:

• Diabetes
• Kidney affliction
• Heart atmospheric condition
• Allergies to medications
• Pregnancy
• Lung conditions
• Previous colonoscopy results

Your doc may need to know if you lot any take drugs that could affect claret clotting, such as Warfarin, Pradaxa, Eliquis – ie blood thinners. These medications may need to be adapted prior to the colonoscopy.

Other preparations you lot need to undertake include cleaning out your bowel then the medico tin run across what is at that place in the lumen. You lot will receive teaching to follow on the twenty-four hours before the procedure that will include restrictions on what you can eat.

Yous volition also be provided with instructions regarding bowel preparation.

The Cancer Council of Australia (two) recommends people anile l to 74 who are at boilerplate hazard of colon cancer, for case, with no symptoms, precursors or family history of colorectal cancer be encouraged to participate in Australia's free National bowel cancer screening plan and utilise the FOBT kit sent in the mail.

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References:

• What are the symptoms of bowel cancer? | Cancer Commonwealth of australia
• What is a colonoscopy? | Cancer Council

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Our skilful gastroenterologists have performed over 500,000 endoscopic procedures in the concluding twenty years. Direct Endoscopy are the premier providers of colonoscopy, gastroscopy and sheathing endoscopy services in Melbourne. We offer specialist consultations in all areas of digestive health, bowel cancer prevention, handling for liver diseases, IBD and more. The doctors at Direct Endoscopy deliver the highest possible standard of gastroenterology and endoscopy.
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