Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is a medical procedure that examines the large bowel. The colonoscope is a device that consists of a long, firm and flexible plastic tube with a tiny digital camera and light at one end. The gastroenterologist carefully guides this instrument in various directions to look inside the colon. The picture from the camera appears on a monitor to provide a clear, magnified view of the colon lining.

Reasons to have a colonoscopy

A colonoscopy can be used to look for cancer of the colon (bowel cancer) or colon polyps, which are growths on the lining of the colon that can sometimes be cancerous or may grow to be cancerous.

A colonoscopy may be performed to find the cause of signs and symptoms including:

• bleeding from the rectum
• blood in stool
• pus or mucus in stool
• unexplained abdominal pain
• changes in bowel habits such as unexplained and long-lasting diarrhoea
• screening and surveillance for colorectal cancer

Talk to your:

• Your doctor
• Gastroenterologist

Source: Better Health Channel, https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/colonoscopy