A colonoscopy is the examination of the interior surface of the entire length of the colon using a special viewing device called a colonoscope. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States.
Your lifetime chance of developing this deadly disease is about 1 in 16. The good news is the death rate from colorectal cancer has been dropping in recent years, a trend that can be attributed to regular screening and early detection.
At ASC Spartanburg, we recommend that all adults age 50 and older should have a colonoscopy every 10 years to screen for signs of possible cancer. Removing colon polyps before cancer has a chance to develop is the best prevention available. Unfortunately, only about a third of individuals eligible for regular colon exams have the procedure.
We contact all patients prior to surgery to go over prep instructions as well as what you can and can not consume the day before your colonoscopy.