Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is done to:

• Check for colorectal cancer or polyps.
  • Tests are recommended by the American Cancer Society (ACS), the American College of Gastroenterologists (ACG), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
  • These groups recommend routine testing for people age 50 and older who have a normal risk for colorectal cancer.
  • People with a higher risk, such as African Americans and people with a strong family history of colon cancer, should be tested sooner. Talk to your doctor about when you should be tested.
• Check for the cause of blood in the stool or rectal bleeding.
• Check for the cause of dark or black stools.
• Check for the cause of chronic diarrhea.
• Check for the cause of iron deficiency anemia.
• Check for the cause of sudden, unexplained weight loss.
• Check the colon after abnormal results from a stool test or a barium enema test.
• Watch or treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
• Check for the cause of long-term, unexplained belly pain.