Specializing in Screening Colonoscopy with NEW Fuse Technology and Hemorrhoid Banding/Anorectal Disorders
Screening Colonoscopy
STEP 3 Information about Colonoscopies
COLON CANCER is Preventable, Treatable & Beatable!
Are you 50 years of age or older? Get
screened for colon cancer, it could save your life!
Colon cancer is the 2nd most common cancer
killer in the United States but it does not have
to be, because the majority of colon cancer can
be prevented by screening colonoscopy.
Even though you are healthy and have no
family history of colon cancer, you are still at
risk and may be developing colon cancer without
any symptoms. So do not delay and get your
screening colonoscopy done if you are over age
50.
You need colonoscopy done at a younger age
than 50 if you have the following:
a family history of colon cancer
family history of colon polyps
you are African American
or have colitis
While early detection of any cancer is
important, prevention is powerful!
Please read the following popular patient brochures:
SCREENING COLONOSCOPY AND COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING
Colon and rectal
cancer arises from pre-cancerous growths or polyps that grow in the colon and
rectum. When detected early, polyps can be removed during colonoscopy, thereby
halting their progression to colorectal cancer.
Colon cancer is considered
a silent killer because there are NO SYMPTOMS until it has progressed to the
point that it is too late for treatment.
The American Cancer Society
projects that 142,820 cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in 2013 in the
United States and that 50,830 will die from the disease this year. IT HAS BEEN
ESTIMATED THAT WITH INCREASED AWARENESS AND SCREENING WOULD SAVE AT LEAST 30,000
LIVES EACH YEAR.
Colonoscopy is
the test of choice, has the highest sensitivity and is the only test that is
both diagnostic and therapeutic. It can diagnose and remove polyps in the same
setting.
What is a colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is a well tolerated procedure in which the
small flexible scope with a camera is advanced through the anal opening all the
way up to the end of the colon. The colon is about 5 feet long and has a lot of
curves. This procedure allows Dr. Gandhi to examine the entire inside of your
colon and rectum for polyps. If polyps are found during the exam he will remove
them and send them to the pathology department for evaluation under the
microscope. Biopsies are often taken to identify many conditions and will also
be sent to the pathology department for evaluation. The results from the
pathology department usually takes 4-5 days to process and are then reviewed by
Dr. Gandhi and discussed with the patient at their follow-up appointment.
Please watch the video below. It discusses what to expect during and after a colonoscopy.
The procedure itself usually takes
approximately 30 minutes. A patient should plan on approximately 3-4 hours
depending on the facility from check in to discharge.
What kind of
preparation is needed for my colonoscopy?
In order to examine the colon
clearly it is very important that the colon is clean and for this reason we have
provided a detailed preparation and diet. Dr. Gandhi’s preferred preparation is
MoviPrep. You will need to follow a low residue diet two days prior to the prep.
What type of anesthesia is given for the procedure?
There are two options
for sedation, one is anesthesia administered by an anesthesiologist and is a
separate cost to the patient. Most is covered by insurance but if the patient
has a high deductible plan this of course will be an added cost to the procedure
and is the patient’s responsibility.
The second option is called
conscious sedation in which a sedative is administered by Dr. Gandhi at no
additional cost. This type of sedation puts the patient in a drowsy sleepy state
but not into a deep sleep. Most patients are very comfortable and do not even
remember the details of the procedure.
Both types of sedation require a
driver who can sign to be responsible to take the patient home after the
procedure. There are no exceptions to this rule. No cabs or transportations
companies allowed. This is done for the patient’s safety. Although you will feel
alert after the procedure, your judgment and reflexes could be impaired for the
rest of the day. We certainly do not want you to have you to have an accident.
What are the risks and complications?
It is a quite safe procedure but
there can be complications in a small percentage of patients.
One possible
complication is a perforation or a hole in the colon which requires surgery. The
chance of this happening is less than 1:1000.
If Dr. Gandhi removes a polyp,
1% of those patients can have bleeding from this site up to 2 weeks. It is
usually minor but if the bleeding does not stop on its own, then it can usually
can be corrected by cauterization.
Some patients may have a reaction to
the sedatives or complications from heart or lung disease.
Complications
after colonoscopy are uncommon, however it is important to recognize early signs
of possible complications.
Will my insurance company pay for a screening
colonoscopy?
Under The Affordable Care Act, routine colonoscopy screenings
are considered necessary preventative care. Beginning at age 50, colonoscopy
procedures are covered by most health insurance plans at zero out-of-pocket cost
to the patient. Medicare also provides colonoscopy benefits at no cost to the
patient. If you have any concerns about this, be sure to contact your insurance
company to find out if it will cost you anything out of pocket.
We are so
happy you are considering your screening colonoscopy. Click on the button below
to schedule your colonoscopy without an office visit or call our office today to schedule at 937.350.6700. Please call our office
today to schedule. This exam could save your life!
SCREENING COLONOSCOPY
There are two options
for sedation, one is anesthesia administered by an anesthesiologist and is a
separate cost to the patient. Most is covered by insurance but if the patient
has a high deductible plan this of course will be an added cost to the procedure
and is the patient’s responsibility.