ColonoscopyWhat To Think About- In general, pregnant women or people who have
severe
heart disease, an abdominal infection, or
diverticulitis should not have a colonoscopy unless
there is an important reason for it.
- Colonoscopy is a more
expensive procedure than a barium enema and other endoscopic colon tests (such
as proctoscopy or sigmoidoscopy), but it can be done less often over time if
results are normal. Colonoscopy is recommended every:
- 10 years for people with normal
results.
- 3 to 5 years for people with increased
risk factors for colorectal cancer or when problems
are found during the colonoscopy.
- Most experts, including the American
Gastroenterological Association, recommend that people with
no risk factors for colorectal cancer start screening tests at age
50.
- The American Gastroenterological Association recommends that
people with a family history of colorectal cancer start
screening tests at age 40, or 10 years before the age that the relative got
cancer.
- If you are at increased risk for colon cancer, talk to
your doctor about which test is best for you and how often you should have the
test.
- A virtual colonoscopy uses a
CT scan to take two- or three-dimensional pictures of
the colon.
- Virtual colonoscopy may be a good test for
people with an average risk of colon cancer. But if you have a virtual
colonoscopy and a problem is found, you may need to have a standard colonoscopy
so that a biopsy can be done.
- For people with a risk for colon
cancer, standard colonoscopy may be a better choice because a biopsy can be
done or a polyp can be taken out.
- Virtual colonoscopy is not
covered by all health insurance plans. Check with your insurance plan before
having the test.
- Virtual colonoscopy uses the same colon prep as
colonoscopy. For many people, the prep for a colonoscopy is more bothersome
than the actual test.
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