How many biopsies are taken during a colonoscopy

For example, you might need to drink large amounts of a liquid laxative solution the evening before the procedure. This can often result in spending a lot of time in the bathroom. Because the process of cleaning out the colon and rectum can be unpleasant, it might keep some people from getting this test done.

However, newer kits are available to clean out the bowel that might make it easier. Talk to your health care provider about all of your options for the bowel prep.

Your health care provider will give you specific instructions. You will probably also be told not to eat or drink anything after a certain time the night before your test. If you normally take prescription medicines in the morning, talk with your doctor or nurse about how to manage them for that day. Because a sedative is used to help keep you more comfortable during the test, you will most likely need to arrange for a ride home after the test.

You might need someone to help you get home if you are sleepy or dizzy, so many centers that do colonoscopies will not discharge people to go home in a cab or a ridesharing service. If transportation might be a problem, talk with your health care provider about the policy at your hospital or surgery center for using one of these services.

There may be other resources available for getting home, depending on the situation. For most people, this medicine makes them unable to remember the procedure afterward. So, you should be familiar with colonoscopy if you aren't already. That's the test during which a doctor places a flexible tube through the rectum into the colon to look for polyps, tumors or other problems. As awful as it may sound, it's usually well-tolerated: you're sedated for the procedure and often people don't even remember having it.

We're lucky to have such a good screening test for colon cancer - colonoscopy can not only detect tumors while they're curable, but it can identify precancerous polyps which can be removed before they become cancerous. For people at average risk of colon cancer, colonoscopy is usually recommended as a screening test at age 50 or age 45, according to the American Cancer Society.

It should be repeated every 10 years thereafter until age It is often recommended for younger people or more frequently for those who notice blood in their stool, have unexplained anemia or a change in bowel habits, have a strong family history of colon cancer or other risk factors for the disease.

While the test does come with some risks such as pain, bleeding or even perforation , serious complications are quite rare. Do you have a cancer chat password? Yes, I have a password. Remember me. Sign in. I would be happy to receive news and updates from Cancer Chat. Create new account. Leave this field blank. Already a member? Sign in now.