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Before the examination:

• Thorough bowel cleansing is necessary. For precise instructions, click here. Consult your doctor regarding the continuation of your regular medication. Inform them if you are taking aspirin, antiplatelet agents, or anticoagulant medications.

At the clinic:

• The doctor will review your medical history and examine your test results. Don't forget to mention any respiratory, cardiac, renal, neurological, or psychiatric issues, allergies, and medications you are taking. Inform them if you have prostate issues, glaucoma, or diabetes.
• The doctor will provide detailed explanations about the nature of the examination. You will be asked to sign a consent form for the procedure, as is customary in many other countries.

In the endoscopy room:

• Do not be afraid. Colonoscopy is usually a painless procedure, and the main discomfort may be bloating in the abdomen from the air introduced to facilitate and thoroughly examine the intestine.
• You will be asked to remove your clothing from the waist down, lie on the examination bed on your left side, and you will be covered with a sheet.
• A small intravenous catheter may be placed in your right hand, which remains in place throughout the procedure, to administer a mild sedative (sedation), analgesic, or muscle relaxant if necessary.
• The colonoscope is inserted through the rectum and advanced to inspect the entire colon. If deemed necessary, the last segments of the small intestine will also be examined. The examination typically lasts 15-30 minutes.

After the examination:

The doctor will provide you with the examination results, inform you if biopsies were taken, and when you will receive the biopsy results. If necessary, they will prescribe treatment. Ask when you can resume your daily medications.

Leaving for home:

• It is advisable to be accompanied by an adult.
• Do not drive.
• Do not consume alcoholic beverages.

What you need to know

Gastroscopy is the best examination for investigating symptoms that may be due to a disorder of the oesophagus, stomach, or duodenum, as it allows for precise diagnosis and confirmation through biopsy. It is a safe and short examination (lasting approximately 5-15 minutes).

Before the examination:

• Do not worry. Gastroscopy is a painless examination. The passage of the endoscope through the throat may induce a feeling of nausea, but this is usually easily overcome with medication.
• Do not eat any food for at least 7-9 hours and do not drink water for at least 2 hours before the examination.
• Ask your doctor if you should take your medications.

At the clinic:

• The doctor will record your medical history and review your tests. Do not forget to mention any respiratory, cardiac, neurological, or psychiatric problems, allergies, and medications you are taking. Mention if you have prostate issues, glaucoma, diabetes, and if you are taking aspirin, antiplatelet agents, or anticoagulant medications.
• You will be asked to sign a consent form, as is done in many other countries.

In the endoscopy room:

• You will be asked to remove your dentures, if you have, take off your glasses, loosen your belt, and lie on the examination bed on your left side.
• A small intravenous catheter may be placed in your right hand, which remains in place throughout the examination, to administer a light sedative (sedation) if necessary.
• The doctor will spray your throat with a local anaesthetic (lidocaine) and place a plastic mouthpiece between your teeth to protect the endoscope from being bitten.
• Then, the lubricated endoscope is passed through the mouth, throat, oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Breathe slowly and deeply through your nose and mouth.

After the examination:

• The doctor will provide you with the examination results, inform you if biopsies were taken, and when you will receive the biopsy results. If necessary, they will prescribe treatment. Ask when you can resume your daily medications.

What are they?

Polyps of the colon are small growths that originate from the inner surface of the colon wall and protrude into its lumen. They are quite common, found in 30% to 50% of the population. While they are not malignant tumours, there is a possibility for them to become malignant over time if left untreated.

What are the symptoms?

Colon polyps typically do not present any symptoms.

How will I know if I have them?

Gastroenterologists usually detect colon polyps during a screening for colorectal or rectal cancer. Pre-symptomatic screening aims to detect colorectal cancer early before symptoms develop. Pre-symptomatic screening for colon and rectal cancer includes:

• Colonoscopy.Before the procedure, you will be given medication intravenously to help you relax or sleep. Then, the gastroenterologist - endoscopist will insert a thin, flexible tube into your rectum and advance it to the final segment of the colon called the cecum (lower right abdomen). The tube is equipped with a camera connected to a monitor to examine the inside of your colon. The tube also has a working channel through which tools pass, allowing the gastroenterologist to take biopsies or remove polyps (polypectomy). The polyps are then sent to a pathology laboratory to be examined for dysplasia or cancer.
• Sigmoidoscopy.Sigmoidoscopy is similar to colonoscopy. The only difference is that sigmoidoscopy examines only the first part of the colon (the rectum and sigmoid colon), whereas colonoscopy examines the entire colon, and therefore colonoscopy is superior to sigmoidoscopy.
• Imaging methods such as computed tomographic colonography, known as virtual colonoscopy, and barium enema. These are performed using X-rays, but they are inferior to colonoscopy because they cannot visualize microscopic polyps, and there is no possibility of taking biopsies or removing polyps (polypectomy) if found. In the latter case, a colonoscopy must be performed to remove the polyps, and therefore the patient undergoes the arduous process of bowel cleansing twice.
• Meyer's stool test. This test is used to screen the general population for colorectal cancer. The test checks for the presence of blood in stool samples. Upon a positive result, colonoscopy is then performed to check for cancer. The test has low sensitivity and is not recommended for patients with symptoms or a family history of colorectal cancer. Colonoscopy remains the preferred examination.

How are polyps treated?

Polyps are removed during colonoscopy if they are small, or surgically if they are large. Removal of a polyp (or polypectomy) does not cause pain because the inner lining of the intestine (the mucosa) does not have sensory nerves to feel pain.

Can the recurrence of colon polyps be prevented?

To reduce the likelihood of recurrence of colon polyps, you can:

• Follow a low-fat diet and high in fruits, vegetables, and dietary fibre.
• Lose weight if you are overweight.
• Quit smoking if you smoke.
• Limit alcohol consumption.