by MJ Guyton

Created on: December 13, 2008

A colonoscopy is a procedure done by a physician where a flexible tube with a camera on the end is used to check the inside of your colon. In doing this procedure, the doctor is usually looking for polyps, which are tumors growing from the wall of the colon. Not everyone has polyps, but the discovery and removal of a polyp is essential in preventing cancer from developing in the colon. Removal of a polyp is a painless and quick procedure and the removed tissue is routinely sent to a lab for testing to see if it's benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). If left unattended, polyps have a tendency to turn into malignant tumors. A colon polyp may take years to turn malignant but when it does and starts to show symptoms like bleeding, pain, change in stool caliber, diarrhea or constipation, major surgery requiring not only removal of the polyp but also part of the colon plus chemotherapy and other cancer treatments may be required.

If your physician suggests you need a colonoscopy, it may be a frightening prospect. However, there's no need to be afraid. Let's go over a colonoscopy step by step in order to understand this important test.

STEP 1: For a day or two before the test, you will undergo the colonoscopy prep. You will be instructed to switch to a mainly liquid diet. This is to clean out your system and empty the colon. For the best results, follow your doctor's directions thoroughly; a clean colon will allow the best colonoscopy. There are a lot of folds on the inside of the colon where polyps can hide and if any excess stool remains a polyp could be missed during the exam, causing you to have to repeat the colonoscopy (and who wants to do that?). Usually the doctor will tell you during this time you can drink broths, clear soups, gelatin (any color but red, to avoid mistaking the red dye for bleeding in the colon), popsicles or energy drinks (again avoiding anything red) and water.

STEP 2: The night before your test you will be prescribed to take a laxative. Your physician will give you written instructions on what to to obtain and you will probably be given a prescription for a laxative to be purchased at your pharmacy. Sometimes your doctor will prescribe a powder that you will mix with a sports drink or water, usually about a gallon, which you will have to drink in a short time, like 60-90 minutes. That may sound like a lot to drink in such a short time, but remember, you need to have a clean colon! This is usually a quick-acting medication and you

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