| I recently received a letter from a patient talking of | | | | safe and effective procedure. I always tell my |
| a sad, but all too common situation that ends in | | | | patients that the worst part of the test is the |
| tragedy. She told me that she attended a funeral of | | | | preparation on the day before the test, and if done |
| a 45 year old woman she knew, no history of colon | | | | correctly, is not that bad at all. The procedure itself is |
| cancer - the true epitome of physical and mental | | | | absolutely painless and is usually quite comfortable. |
| health. Unfortunately, she underwent a routine | | | | The entire procedure may easily be completed within |
| colonoscopy (though it may have not been as routine | | | | 30 minutes. A short acting intravenous anesthetic is |
| as she says) and found that she had stage 3 colon | | | | administered to the patient immediately before the |
| cancer. | | | | procedure. The true benefit of a colonoscopy is that |
| She continued by saying that her grandfather has | | | | it is not only a diagnostic tool, but more importantly it |
| also recently died of colon cancer and that her father | | | | is therapeutic. This means that if a polyp (abnormal |
| has had to have polyps removed regularly. Her | | | | tissue growth) is identified, it may be easily removed |
| concern was that now that she herself is 50 years | | | | at the same time, thus preventing and even curing a |
| old expressed dire interest in getting a colonoscopy. | | | | potential cancer from ever developing. |
| Our hope is that this one is in fact in time. | | | | Most of my patients are relieved when the risks and |
| It is an absolute tragedy to hear of stories such as | | | | benefits of the procedure are carefully discussed |
| this one. It is unfortunate that it often takes such | | | | with them. But as the famous saying goes, the proof |
| misfortunes to teach us all lessons in life. Being a | | | | is in the pudding. It is always a pleasure to be asked |
| gastroenterologist, I regrettably witness such events | | | | the same question from my patients who wake up |
| frequently. However, I must admit that the most | | | | immediately after the test, "when are you going to |
| rewarding part of my work is that I have been given | | | | start the procedure?" or "That's it?". |
| the ability by the all mighty to prevent such disasters | | | | Generally, people that should undergo colonoscopy |
| on a daily basis. The routine colonoscopy is perhaps | | | | are all people over the age of 50 years and those |
| one of the most poorly understood and even feared | | | | who have first degree family members (parents or |
| procedures by the general population. Patients often | | | | siblings) that were diagnosed with colon cancer. |
| present to my practice with stories of awful | | | | Specific rules apply in various cases and can be |
| experiences that their friends or acquaintances have | | | | discussed with a specialist. The most important |
| recalled. Myths about the preparation, the procedure | | | | concept to understand is that colon cancer is one of |
| itself and complications leave patients frightened and | | | | the most common causes of cancer death in the |
| anxious to the point that they put off going for the | | | | United States and it is also completely preventable. |
| test. | | | | Consider the infinite merit of referring loved ones for |
| The reality is that a colonoscopy is a very simple, | | | | a colonoscopy. |