Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, can affect any part of the colon or rectum; it may also be referred to as colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where the cancer is located.
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A colonoscopy is a quick and generally painless procedure that allows for the full examination of the entire inner lining of your bowel (colon and rectum).
During the procedure, the colonoscopist spends most of the time looking for changes to the normal landscape of your bowel lining and removes anything that looks suspicious, like growths called polyps.
Polyps are usually harmless (benign); they can be slightly raised (sessile), look like they are on a stalk like a cherry (pedunculated), or can be very flat.
Adenomatous polyps however, can become cancerous (malignant), and if left undetected can develop into a cancerous tumour.
Polyps can be detected and removed before they develop into bowel cancer during a colonoscopy, and bowel cancer, if present, can be diagnosed.
The colonoscopy usually lasts around 30 minutes or less and is typically performed while you are under a general anaesthetic.
Because of the sedation, you should arrange for someone to collect you and take you home following the procedure.
A colonoscopy is one of the most comprehensive methods to evaluate abnormalities within the bowel, including cancer, inflammation, bleeding, polyps, and adenomas, which are the precursor to bowel cancer.
A diagnostic colonoscopy is recommended if you experience symptoms suggestive of bowel cancer for two weeks or more, or if you receive a positive faecal immunochemical test (FIT) result.
If you have a genetic predisposition which increases your bowel cancer risk, such as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome, you may require screening colonoscopies. Speak to your GP for individual advice and referral to a specialist and Family Cancer Clinic.
A colonoscopy is conducted in a dedicated, private area with the necessary equipment needed and your vital signs are monitored throughout the procedure by the colonoscopist and medical staff.
You will be lying on your left side on an examination table as you receive sedation intravenously, which will most likely be the last thing you remember about the experience.
During the procedure, the colonoscopist will insert a tool called a colonoscope into the anus and through the bowel until it reaches the cecum, the area where the small and large intestines meet.
A colonoscope is a long, thin, flexible instrument, connected to a camera with a light source and video display monitor.
The optics of the colonoscope transmit a video image from inside the bowel to a computer screen, and the design of the colonoscope allows for instruments to pass through the channel of the scope to sample or remove tissue, without the need for surgery.
The colonoscope is used to cleanse the surface lining with water, inflate and remove air from the large intestine for an optimal view of the bowel, inspect the bowel lining for abnormalities, take photographs and tissue samples and remove polyps. The procedure to remove polyps is called a polypectomy.
The colonoscopist carefully checks for abnormalities while slowly removing the scope.
The examination generally takes less than half an hour.
If any polyps are found during the procedure, they can usually be removed during the procedure using specialised tools that run inside the colonoscope.
If a polyp or tumour is too big to be safely removed through the colonoscope, the colonoscopist will take a sample of the tissue and send it for testing to determine the nature of the lesion.
If other abnormalities are found in the bowel, or the colonoscopy is being done to determine the cause of symptoms, biopsies will be performed.
Following the completion of a colonoscopy, patients are transferred to a recovery room where they remain under observation as the effects of sedation gradually dissipate. It is common to experience mild discomfort, such as cramping or bloating, due to the air introduced into the bowel during the procedure.
These sensations are typically fleeting and alleviate on their own within a short period. Patients are advised to rest for the remainder of the day and can expect to resume their normal diet and daily activities by the following day, unless otherwise directed by their colonoscopist.
The colonoscopist will provide you with a copy of the procedure report, complete with pictures, and tell you if anything was found.
If something of concern is discovered, a follow-up plan will be discussed with you.
Colonoscopies usually take place at the hospital’s outpatient department or in a same day procedure centre.
Arrival 30 minutes prior to the procedure allows you to change clothes and get admitted to the pre-procedure room.
The examination generally takes less than half an hour, but the sedative can stay in the blood for up to 24 hours.
Following the procedure you will remain in the recovery area for approximately two hours until the effect of the sedation wears off.
Your vital signs must be acceptable before you will be discharged, but you can return home the same day.
Because of the sedation, you should arrange for someone to collect you and take you home.
In addition, a letter with the results of any biopsies and the interval for the next colonoscopy will be sent to your mailing address, so it is important that you have provided the most recent information.
Most patients choose to be sedated during a colonoscopy, and wake up in the recovery room with little memory of the procedure.
Because the bowel does not feel pinching or burning sensations, no pain is experienced if the colonoscopist removes polyps or tissue during the procedure.
The colonoscopist will inflate the bowel with air using the colonoscope, in order to get a better view because the bowel is collapsed into a series of folds.
The air can cause a person to feel bloated during or following the procedure, but it will pass naturally.
Your colonoscopist will provide you with a list of written discharge instructions including what symptoms may be normal after colonoscopy and what symptoms should prompt you to call them or seek urgent medical attention.
If you experience severe abdominal pain, excessive rectal bleeding, fever, or anything unanticipated following the procedure, contact your colonoscopist as soon as possible.
The combination of the bowel preparation process and sedation leaves many patients feeling groggy and weak following the procedure.
As a result, someone must accompany you from the recovery area and take you home following the procedure.
Because you’ve been sedated, you will not be allowed to drive until the next day.
Discharge instructions will be provided by the personnel in the recovery room. They will give you an idea of what to expect over the course of the next day, including restrictions on any medications or activities.
Minor symptoms such as gas or bloating should disappear within 24 hours; however, if you experience pain, bloating, or excessive rectal bleeding following the procedure contact your colonoscopist as soon as possible.
Bowel preparation and colonoscopy can take a temporary toll on the body, so feeling tired following the experience is to be expected.
In addition, it is not uncommon to experience some slight discomfort related to bloating and gas due to air that may still be trapped in the bowel, following the procedure.
Furthermore, if any polyps were removed from the bowel lining, a small ulcer or sore remains at the removal site, which can be prone to bleeding, either immediately or within two weeks.
Before leaving the recovery area, you will also be given phone numbers you can call if any symptoms develop or you have concerns. You will also be provided with a detailed list of discharge instructions which include symptoms you may experience.
However, it’s easier to deal with a problem in its earliest stages, rather than waiting until it gets worse, so speak with your colonoscopist before your discharge about any concerns or symptoms you may have.
Rest and relaxation are generally encouraged for the remainder of the day following your colonoscopy, as are lots of fluids to replace those your body lost during the bowel preparation process.
It is important to rehydrate following bowel preparation and colonoscopy, so you may be asked to avoid drinking alcohol for a few days following the procedure.
In addition, your digestive system may be sensitive following the bowel preparation process. Be gentle when eating your first meal following your colonoscopy and make sure it is something that is easily digestible.
Begin slowly, to build up your tolerance.
If your appetite does not return, contact your colonoscopist.
Your colonoscopist may make special recommendations about your use of medications, including over-the-counter medications, herbs, or supplements to minimise the risk of bleeding if you had polyps removed during your colonoscopy.
Be sure you, or the person driving you home, get a chance to review the results of the colonoscopy with your colonoscopist before you leave the endoscopy area.
Knowing whether you have something to be concerned about or you’re just expecting a letter to tell you to come back in five years will be reassuring.
Your colonoscopist will be able to reassure or advise you whether there was something serious or concerning detected, immediately after the procedure, even without the results of biopsies.
The majority of individuals undergoing colonoscopy get reassuring news that the procedure was normal or that nothing life threatening was found.
Routine processing of results usually takes less than one week, but if your colonoscopist is concerned about something that was found, the biopsy sample can be rushed through the lab for quicker results.
Every person’s feedback about their colonoscopy experience is unique and valuable. Help us ensure the patient voice is heard, so that future colonoscopy care reflects what patients want and need.