Colonoscopy Procedure and Preparation

Everyone has reasons for not getting a colonoscopy, but none of these reasons outweigh the benefit of taking charge of your health.

A colonoscopy is the gold standard in screening because it can both detect and remove polyps before they can turn into colon cancer - the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States. In fact, up to 85 percent of colorectal cancers could be prevented if everyone who was eligible for colonoscopy screening actually got screened.

Still unsure? Download our free fact sheet and address your colonoscopy concerns:

What happens during a colonoscopy?
Why should I get a colonoscopy?
What do I need to know about colonoscopy prep?
Can a colonoscopy be painful or risky?

Schedule a colonoscopy today - it can save your life!

Removal of precancerous polyps by colonoscopy reduces your chance of getting colon cancer by 70 percent.
91 percent of new colon cancer cases occur in patients 50 or older.
Cleveland Clinic is highly experienced in colonoscopy, performing more than 20,000 per year.
Cleveland Clinic has been ranked No. 2 in the nation in gastroenterology by U.S. News & World Report since 2003.

When Jim Risk turned 40, he figured it was " time to 'rotate the tires' and 'check the oil.' " During his physical exam at Cleveland Clinic's Chagrin Falls Family Health Center, Mr. Risk mentioned that he was still experiencing rectal bleeding due to a lingering hemorrhoid. His doctor encouraged him to have a colonoscopy at Cleveland Clinic's main campus to be sure. During the colonoscopy, specialist James Church, MD, found several cancerous polyps, one of which was nearly the size of a golf ball. Because the cancer was caught early, surgery to remove it was successful and Mr. Risk is now considered cancer-free. His advice to others? "Don't ignore rectal bleeding."