colonoscopy

March Is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: Know Your Risk Factors, Learn How to Lower Them and Partner with Your Doctor to Prevent the Disease

By Carol Wolfenbarger, MSN, RN, FACHE Most people know that a pink ribbon signifies breast cancer awareness, but do you know what the blue ribbon stands for? Colorectal cancer awareness, and since March is officially designated Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, it’s a time when we spread the word about how to lower your risk for […]

read more

Raise Your Awareness about Colorectal Cancer, It Could Save Your Life

By Tonia W. Hale, DNP, MAOM, BSN, RN The importance of routine health screenings can’t be overemphasized. Tests like mammograms and PSA exams for prostate cancer have the ability to detect cancers at their earliest stages, when no symptoms are apparent, and as we know, the earlier you can find cancer, the better a patient’s […]

read more

Preventing Colon Cancer: Making Cancer Screenings Easier for Patients

Preventing Colon Cancer Together Colorectal cancer screenings are an important step toward early diagnosis, but many people avoid colonoscopies because of fear of discomfort. With the increase in incidence of colorectal cancer in younger age groups, Sarah Cannon and other organizations, including the American Cancer Society, are recommending screening start as early as 45 years […]

read more

Don’t Assume: The ABCs of Colonoscopies

By Robert Roddenberry, MD We asked Robert Roddenberry, MD, to discuss common assumptions about colonoscopies, challenge misconceptions about colorectal cancer and answer what exactly happens before, during and after a screening. Reasons to Get a Colonoscopy “Colonoscopies should be performed on everyone starting at age 50 or possibly younger if there is a family history of colon […]

read more

How Better Tasting Prep Makes for Easier Colonoscopies

In order for a colonoscopy to be complete and accurate, the patient’s colon must be completely cleaned. While this part of the test has been met with apprehension by patients over the years, it is now easier than ever. At Mission Hospital McDowell, the preferred test prep drink is a combination of Gatorade and Miralax. […]

read more