The most effective method for colorectal cancer screening and prevention is a colonoscopy.
During a colonoscopy, the rectum and length of the colon are examined with a flexible, tubular instrument called a colonoscope. The colonoscope has a tiny camera and light on the end, which is connected to a large monitor that enables the doctor to carefully view and inspect the entire colon. In most cases, if the doctor detects an abnormality or identifies a polyp, he can take a tissue sample of the abnormality or completely remove the polyp during the same procedure. No other test provides as great a level of accuracy and completeness. Colonoscopies take less than half an hour to complete, with a total time commitment of about 2 hours.
An upper endoscopy or EGD – short for esophagastroduodenoscopy – is a procedure by which the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum are examined with a flexible, tubular instrument called a gastroscope.
The gastroscope has a tiny camera and light on the end, which is connected to a large monitor that allows Dr. Stout to carefully view and inspect the lining of the digestive tract. In most cases, if the doctor detects an abnormality or identifies a polyp, he can take a tissue sample of the abnormality or completely remove the polyp during the same procedure. The procedure takes less than half an hour to complete, with a total time commitment of approximately two hours. The endoscope does not interfere with your breathing and the procedure is generally well-tolerated.
Reasons to have an endoscopy include the following:
- To detect abnormalities in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as heartburn, difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea and vomiting, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
- To confirm a diagnosis of esophageal or stomach cancer
- To remove polyps
- To widen narrowed passages
- To stop active bleeding
- To remove obstructions
