What do I need to pay attention to if I want to have a colonoscopy? 1. What is a colonoscopy? A thin endoscope with a camera on the end is used to see deep into the colon and help find tiny growths, called polyps, that can become cancerous later. If you have pain, blood in your stool, constipation or diarrhea, a colonoscopy can also find the cause. 2. When do I need it? People over 45 years old should have a colonoscopy to rule out the risk of colon cancer, especially if someone in your family has colon cancer, rectal cancer or polyps, it is recommended to have a checkup as soon as possible. 3.The day before the examination The day before the examination, you should cleanse your intestines and your doctor will guide you exactly what to do. Generally, you should not eat any solid food the day before, but only drink a liquid diet, such as vegetable soup, fish soup, broth and water, and do not eat or drink anything after midnight. 4. Cleanse the colon The day before or the morning of the colonoscopy taking will take a laxative, and some people may also need to use an enema. Only if the colon is relatively clean can the doctor clearly see any polyps, bleeding or signs of cancer. 5.Take your original medications Tell your doctor what medications or nutrients you are taking. Your doctor will tell you which medications to reduce or stop taking in the days before the colonoscopy, and you can take them as usual when the exam is complete. 6.The day of the examination During the examination, you may feel uncomfortable, so it is recommended that your family members wait with you. 7.The examination usually takes place while lying on your side, and the whole procedure will take 30-60 minutes. The doctor will place a tube in the rectum and up. First, the air blown through the tube will make the colon wider so that it can be viewed more easily, but it will also make you feel a certain amount of discomfort. 8.Why polyps need to be removed These small polyps usually do not cause symptoms and occasionally cause bleeding or pain during bowel movements, diarrhea or constipation, so it is advantageous to remove them, especially if there are more than one, or if one of them is particularly large, these are more likely to be pre-cancerous. 9. Why a biopsy is needed A biopsy may be needed if any tissue changes are found that could be cancer or pre-cancerous signs. A small sample of tissue is taken and sent to a laboratory for cancer testing. If you have problems such as blood in the stool or diarrhea, a biopsy can also help identify the cause. 10. What happens after the test? It is normal to have a small amount of blood in your first stool after a colonoscopy. If you have blood in your stool or severe abdominal pain, see your doctor again as soon as possible. 11.How often do you need to be screened If your colonoscopy results are normal, you may consider having your next colonoscopy in 5 years. If the colon polyps are small, you should be re-examined within 3 years. Larger polyps or many polyps mean that annual colonoscopies may be needed.