Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a test that looks at the inner lining of a person’s large intestine. The large intestine is also called the colon
Often, people have a colonoscopy as a screening test to check for polyps or for cancer in the colon or rectum. Polyps are growths in the colon that might turn into cancer. If you have polyps, the doctor can usually take them out during the colonoscopy. Taking polyps out lowers your chances of getting cancer. People can also have colonoscopy if they have any of the symptoms listed below.
- Blood in your bowel movements
- A change in your bowel habits
- A condition called anemia that can make you feel tired and weak
- Long-term belly or rectal pain that you cannot explain
- Abnormal results from a different type of colon test
- A history of colon cancer or polyps in your colon
