As the second leading cause of death among cancer patients, colon cancer is something that none of us can ignore. Everyone age 45 and older (and sometimes earlier) is encouraged to have this potentially life-saving exam.

A colonoscopy is a visual examination of the inner lining of the colon and is the primary procedure delivered in our Endoscopy Center. Because of the thorough nature of the exam, cancers can not only be detected but also prevented, thanks to the proactive removal of polyps during the exam. As a result, a colonoscopy can reduce the risk of developing colon cancer by up to 90%. For any endoscopy or colonoscopy procedure, it’s important for patients to closely follow their assigned prep instructions.

Although today, alternatives to colonoscopy exist, like Cologard, which is a method in which a patient’s stool sample is tested, none provide the thorough polyp detection and cancer prevention benefits of colonoscopy. Therefore, we do offer Cologard to our patients, but not as a primary method for colon cancer screening or prevention.