Colonoscopy 101

Everything You Need to Know About Colonoscopies

Like most forms of cancer, early detection is key when it comes to effectively diagnosing and treating colorectal cancer. While many know that colonoscopies are helping your doctors to detect this form of cancer, you may still have questions about this health screening. The health experts at St. John's Health are here to share everything you need to know.

What is a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a procedure done to allow doctors to examine the inside of the colon and rectum for abnormalities. During this procedure, a colonoscope—a flexible tube with a small camera attached to the end—is placed in the anus and fed into the colon rectum and colon.

If any abnormal growths or polyps are found, additional instruments will be inserted in order to remove or biopsy them.

How Often Do You Need a Colonoscopy?

With roughly 90% of colorectal cancer cases being diagnosed in adults over the age of 45, it is important to begin routine screenings around this age. Screenings help your doctors to detect precancerous polyps or growths that may be a cause for concern.

For the average healthy adult, it is recommended that you get a colonoscopy once every 10 years, starting at the age of 50. If you have any risk factors that may increase your risk of developing colorectal cancer, your primary care doctor may suggest more frequent screenings.

Additional Colorectal Cancer Screenings

Additional testing that can help your doctors to detect colorectal cancer include:

• Highly sensitive fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
• Highly sensitive guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)
• Multi-targeted stool DNA test (mt-sDNA)
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy)
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy (FSIG)

Robotic Surgery in Jackson, Wilson, and Teton County

At St. John's Health, we are dedicated to providing ever-advancing individualized care. Our highly skilled surgeons use state-of-the-art robotics to assist with various surgeries in Jackson, WY. Robotics allows surgeons to be more precise, and carry out minimally invasive procedures that help patients to feel better, faster.

Some of the available robotic-assisted surgeries available at St. John's Health include:

• Colorectal
• Bariatric Surgery
• Gallbladder Surgery
• Inguinal Hernia
• Ventral Hernia
• Endometriosis Resection
• Benign Hysterectomy
• Kidney Surgery
• Prostate Surgery

Talk to your surgical care team today to discuss your robot-assisted surgery options at St. John's Health.