The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 152,000 new cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed in 2024 including nearly 5,000 in Georgia alone. While colorectal cancer is among the most common types of cancer, it can often be detected in an early stage, sometimes before it even develops into cancer.
Regular colorectal cancer screening is recommended for all adults beginning at age 45 though some people at high risk may need screening at an earlier age. Surgeons with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) General Surgery perform colonoscopy, which is considered the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening.
What is a colonoscopy?
Screening tests are recommended to detect disease even in someone who is not experiencing symptoms. Colonoscopy is a type of colorectal cancer screening.
During a colonoscopy a general surgeon uses a long, flexible tube to check for precancerous polyps or cancerous growths inside the colon (the large intestine) or rectum (the lower portion of the large intestine). If polyps or cancer are found during a colonoscopy they can often be removed during the same procedure.
Colonoscopy may also be recommended as a diagnostic tool if you’re experiencing symptoms that could be related to colorectal cancer or a non-cancerous condition affecting the digestive system.
Who should have a colonoscopy?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults at average risk of colorectal cancer begin screening at age 45. You’ll continue colorectal cancer screening at regular intervals afterwards, depending on the type of screening.
Follow-up colonoscopies are recommended every 10 years if you aren’t experiencing symptoms. Other colorectal cancer screenings are recommended more frequently, so talk with a medical provider about the screening regimen that’s best for you.
What happens during a colonoscopy?
Prior to a colonoscopy, you’ll prepare by fully emptying your bowel following directions provided by your surgeon. During your colonoscopy you can expect:
- Anesthesia
Before beginning, you’ll be sedated and then your surgeon will insert a thin, lighted tube through the anus and into the rectum and colon. - Observation
The tube contains a camera which allows your surgeon to view the inside of the rectum and colon, carefully examining them for precancerous polyps or cancerous growths. - Biopsy
The same tube, which is called a colonoscope, can be used to remove many growths or to remove a sample of the tissue for a biopsy. This feature of colonoscopy makes it unique—serving as both a screening test and a treatment method.
A colonoscopy is performed as an outpatient surgical procedure in an endoscopy suite at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. The procedure takes approximately one hour, and patients are discharged home afterward.
Is a colonoscopy better than other types of colorectal cancer screening?
A colonoscopy is not necessarily better than other forms of screening, but it is the only form of screening that can both detect and remove potentially cancerous growths. Other colorectal cancer screenings can detect abnormalities, such as blood or altered DNA in fecal matter, but if abnormalities are found or suspected, follow-up testing with a colonoscopy is required.
During a colonoscopy a general surgeon inspects the rectum and the entire colon. It’s the only screening test that examines the full length of the colon in comparison with other tests, such as sigmoidoscopy, that look at only part of it.
Choose NGPG for Colorectal Cancer Screening
While the thought of colorectal cancer screening may not be pleasant for many people, screening can truly be lifesaving. Colorectal cancer is one of the only forms of cancer that can be detected and removed in a precancerous form. Colonoscopy helps us do that.
At NGPG General Surgery, we offer colonoscopy and other colorectal cancer screenings to help detect cancer at an early stage when it’s most treatable. Our surgeons have years of experience in performing colonoscopies along with surgical procedures to treat abnormalities of the digestive system, including colorectal cancer.