Do you know what (and where) your colon is? Also known as your large bowel, the colon is the end section of your digestive tract. It is a hollow tube that connects the end of the small intestine to the rectum. Your colon is around five feet long, and is used to store waste and absorb water before the waste is eliminated as stool.
A colonoscopy gives your doctor or gastroenterologist a chance to look inside your large bowel. The doctor will check for inflammation, ulcers and lesions, and abnormal growths. This test is most often used to check for early signs of colon and rectal cancer. It can also be used to help discover causes for changes in bowel habits.
The test is performed by a long, flexible, lighted tube called a colonoscope. The scope transmits an image of the inside of your colon to a monitor so your doctor can examine the lining of your colon. The scope also blows air into your colon to inflate it, giving a better view of the lining. You may be asked to lie on your side or on your back during the test. If your doctor finds polyps or other abnormal growths, they will be removed during the examination. Most polyps are not cancerous, but may be pre-cancerous, and will be sent to a lab for testing. A colonoscopy prevents many cancers from forming by finding and removing polyps.
A sedative will keep you from feeling much of anything during the colonoscopy. The examination itself can take as little as fifteen minutes or as much as an hour. You may feel some cramping or gas afterwards. Most patients are dismissed from the surgery center within an hour or two of surgery; most people are fully recovered and return to regular activities by the next day.
Complications from colonoscopy are rare and usually minor.