Colorectal Cancer Screening

Polyps are abnormal growths in the colon that may turn into cancer if left untreated. Polyps can:

• Be large or small. Bigger polyps are more likely to be precancerous, which means they might lead to cancer.
• Grow directly on the colon, or from a stalk. Polyps with a stalk are less likely to become cancerous.
• Swell into the colon or rectum.

When doctors find polyps during colonoscopy, they often remove them immediately. This approach can decrease your risk of colon cancer.

Physicians may use one of two techniques to remove polyps. They can:

• Destroy small polyps using an electrical current, called electrosurgery
•  Use a wire loop to snare and remove larger polyps

Your doctor will send the polyps to a pathology lab for more testing. It can take about a week to receive the results. If your doctor finds polyps during your colonoscopy, you may need further tests for an accurate diagnosis.

A colonoscopy takes about 30 minutes, but it requires some preparation. A day or two before a colonoscopy, your doctor will ask you to complete a bowel prep. This includes a liquid diet and strong laxatives to empty your colon -- stay near a bathroom as you may need to go frequently.

Here’s what to expect the day of the appointment:

1. The doctor will give you medicine so you will sleep through the colonoscopy and not feel any discomfort. You will need someone to go with you to the appointment, wait while you have the exam, and drive you home.
2. In a private room, a colorectal surgeon or gastroenterologist (a doctor who specializes in the intestinal tract and digestive organs) will use a colonoscope -- a thin tube, about the size of a finger, with a light and a tiny camera on the end.
3. The physician will carefully guide the colonoscope through the rectum and into the colon to view images of the inside of your colon on a screen.

You can go home after the test. You will probably still be sleepy from the medicine, but you can return to your usual activities the next day. Your physician will call you with the results of your colonoscopy.

Negative results mean the doctor did not find polyps. Your physician will advise you on when you should have another screening. If the doctor finds polyps, the doctor will biopsy the polyps they remove and examine the tissues for cancer under a microscope.

• Precancerous polyps require regular follow-up colonoscopies. Your doctor might recommend additional procedures or testing right away.
• Cancerous polyps require more treatment. Your doctor will explain our team’s recommendations to develop a treatment plan.

We offer a service called Open Access Colonoscopy. Patients can schedule routine screening colonoscopies without first going to a gastroenterologist. This saves patients time and money.

You may schedule an Open Access Colonoscopy as long as you are:

• Between 50 and 80 years old
• Referred to the endoscopist by the primary care physician

If you have multiple health concerns, a nurse will preview your medical records and consult a doctor first. Some insurance plans do not cover preventive health screenings. Check with your insurance carrier to determine your coverage.

Although most people who are diagnosed with colon cancer are older than age 40, some patients are younger. We may recommend genetic counseling for these younger patients and their family members.

If you may be at risk for an inherited cancer, we’ll work with you and our genetics team to recommend next steps. And, we’ll help you and your family members navigate any additional screening or care you may need.