1)    The most common cancer in the US in nonsmokers is colon cancer

2)    Colon cancer starts in small colon polyps, and usually takes 10 years to progress from benign polyp to invasive cancer

3)    Benign polyps are easily seen and removed at the time of colonoscopy, so they can never turn into cancer

4)    90% of colon cancer and nearly 100% of deaths from colon cancer could be prevented if everyone had a colonoscopy as recommended (start age 50, then every 10 years, for average risk patients)

5)    Compared to colonoscopy, checking the stool for blood or having a sigmoidoscopy (scope of the lower 20” of the colon, done in the Primary Care doctor’s office, no sedation), will only find 1/3 of the colon cancers in women

6)    Colonoscopy is very safe – only 1/500 people will have a complication

7)    The prep is not as bad as you think it is

8)    You will be completely sedated for the procedure and will not feel anything uncomfortable, and probably won’t remember anything

9)    If the colonoscopy is normal you don’t need another one for 10 years! If you have polyps, symptoms, or a family history of colon cancer, you may need one sooner.

10) Tips to make it easier

• Try for an early morning appointment

• Ask about prep options and pick the one that sounds best to you

• Convince a friend or spouse to get one too and schedule them the same week – you can drive each other

• Eat lightly for a few days before your prep

11) Excuses we don’t buy:

• I’ll go next year (sure you will)

• I’m too busy (to save your own life?)

• No one in my family ever had colon cancer (like most people with colon cancer)

• I don’t have any bowel symptoms (ditto)

• It’s too dangerous (see above)

• I don’t want to do the prep, it’s icky (colon cancer is kind of icky too)

• It will hurt (we promise it will not)

• I’ll think about it (just do it!)