A Colonoscopy Could Be Life-Saving

Colonoscopies as well as colonoscopies. They were once highly advanced and hardly ever mentioned. Today, colonoscopies are routinely performed to diagnose, monitor, and prevent specific gastrointestinal illnesses in family members as well as in families where there is a high incidence of what is thought to be a genetic predisposition to the colon, colonic, and other malignancies. The operation has become so routine and conventional that one patient chose to have day surgery at the hospital where the procedure was performed after describing in great detail how delicate his doctor—the trained gastroenterologist—was in his care, competence, and process.

Further inquiry revealed that there was no anesthetic used during the day of surgery for the colonoscopy procedure. It's a one-day treatment; there will be no overnight or extended clinic observation. It was revealed later in the explanation that the reason for the day surgery did not worry about adverse effects from the anesthetic, fear of complications, or even the expense of the procedure because those were all covered by a health insurance plan. The rationale given for selecting day surgery was that "I will save money by not having to pay for a cab." With the pass they offer me, I can park for free in the hospital's parking lot. It's a day of surgery without an anesthetic.

Today, a colonoscopy is a pretty quick procedure that lasts no longer than 30 minutes. Fear of the test, however, is not a valid excuse for delaying treatment. Yes, a routine colonoscopy can save your life.

The trained individual who performs the process, known as an endoscope, inserts a colon scope during a colonoscopy and advances it along the length of the colon. The trained endoscopes watch a display screen that is lit by the colon scope, which also transmits images from the colon. All of it has a TV-like feel to it.

What the treatment can or will show? First of all, parts of the colon that are inflammatory, sick, or plain suspicious are what is being sought after. If such places are discovered, such as a small growth or polyp, the endoscopes can take a snippet or biopsy immediately, allowing a surgeon or laboratory to analyze and evaluate it. The test and process are also useful for continuous monitoring and surveillance. It either occurs in families where there is a genetic predisposition to certain diseases, like colon cancer, or where a patient may have experienced difficulties or concerns in the past. In either case, the doctor is essentially merely monitoring the patient's condition.

However, not everyone should get a colon scope test. It is not a test that you feel you should consistently request from your doctor. It is a rigorous but helpful test, and its application is based on a risk versus benefit analysis. It is up to your doctor and frequently a gastrointestinal physician to decide whether the test is necessary for you or a loved one.