Schedule Your Colonoscopy By Year's End (and Maximize Your Deductible)

As we are entering into the last few months of the year, now is the perfect time to evaluate the status of your overall health and wellness goals for 2023. One way to help make sure you stay on top of your goals is to reserve a routine colorectal cancer screening with an expert gastrointestinal doctor.

Even though other testing methods are available, colonoscopy is perhaps the most reliable and efficient for colon cancer screening. The doctors at Colorado Gastroenterology regularly perform colonoscopy screenings to help patients identify warning signs of colorectal cancer as early as possible and to provide care for connected concerns in the colon. Read on to hear more concerning colonoscopies from our Denver, CO gastrointestinal team.

Why are colonoscopies preferred when screening for colon cancer?

Not only do they assist in evaluating for indicators of cancer of the colon, but a colonoscopy also permits your GI specialist to inspect the general wellbeing of your colon as well as remove any colon polyps they find in the course of the procedure.

Colonoscopy may be recommended for those who are at least 45 years old or for those who:

• Consume a diet low in fiber and high in calories and fat
• Suffer from specific inflammatory bowel diseases (including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) which are known to raise one's risk of colon or rectal cancer
• Have a history of bowel cancer in their family
• Are a member of specific ethnicities (African Americans have a higher risk of being diagnosed with colon cancer than people of other ethnicities, though no group is without risk.)

It's important to consult with a digestive health expert to walk through your cancer risk and when to schedule a colonoscopy.

When is the optimal time for a person to schedule a colonoscopy?

In the big picture, there is not a "right" or "wrong" time in one's life to be proactive about taking care of their health. Still, deductibles are due to reset for most health insurance policies on January 1. If you have already reached your deductible, now could be the optimal time to go for a colonoscopy in Denver, CO, and take advantage of the savings. If you're a member of a plan with a flexible savings account (FSA), now is your last opportunity to use up remaining funds that can't carry over into the next year.

In addition to the financial benefits, performing any needed health screenings before the end of the year will set you up to start 2023 knowing that you are on top of your wellness needs.

Exactly how does a colonoscopy screening work?

Colonoscopy screenings are routine exam that is conducted in a private setting at your doctor's office or at a nearby endoscopy center. Upon your arrival at the exam site, preparations will be made, and you will be asked to lie on your side. A member of our team will give you intravenous sedation in small and controlled amounts to manage both your comfort and safety during the exam. Following your sedation, your gastroenterology specialist at Colorado Gastroenterology will initiate the colonoscopy procedure by carefully inserting a scope via your rectum and forward through the colon, ascertaining the health of your bowel by way of the camera affixed inside the end of the device. Based on the information revealed by the colorectal screening, the exam usually takes approximately 15 – 30 minutes.

Reserve a time for your colonoscopy in Denver, CO today

Cancer of the colon causes more than 50,000 deaths annually in the U.S., but the odds of survival improve drastically when the cancer is diagnosed and addressed early in its development. This is the reason it's vital to enlist the help of an experienced colonoscopy specialist who can recognize the markers of cancer and help you if additional treatments are required. With the collective knowledge of our physician-led group of GI providers ready to lend a hand, our providers with Colorado Gastroenterology are available to help you ring in a new year with your health as a priority. For more information about screenings for colon cancer or to meet with a provider specializing in colonoscopies in Denver, CO, please reach out to our gastroenterology team today.