Colon cancer is the largest cause of death from cancer in men who don't smoke, and 2nd largest cause in men and women who do smoke. But most colon cancers can now be prevented. Colonoscopy is the best and only way to do it! It also helps discover, monitor and treat other diseases of the colon.

The Purpose:

Since all colon cancers come from polyps, we aim to find polyps early through the colonoscope and remove them before they turn into cancer, i.e. cancer prevention. A polyp looks like a wart or cherry. Routine colonoscopy prevents cancers by removing polyps.

It is important to get a check-up before symptoms arise. The cure rate when a cancer is found early (without symptoms) is 85%, but after symptoms occur it is only 15%. By removing polyps during regular colonoscopy, we rarely see colon cancer now — mostly in new patients! Only in colon cancer is there a lesion (ie: polyp) which can be detected and removed before the cancer starts. This is true cancer prevention.

The Scope :

The new technology we use is the video colonoscope. It has a video chip in its tip, which transmits visual images to a television monitor. Using controls at the head of the instrument we can bend the tip through about 360° so we can see around corners. There are channels for injecting air, for sucking out gas and fluid, and a washer to clean the tip of the instrument for good visibility.

Another channel allows us to insert forceps to take a bite out of a lesion and a snare to remove a polyp. The cramps or fullness that occur during the procedure last only a few seconds and occur as we progress around a corner.

Potential Complications :

A key step of the examination is the laxative taken the night before. The colon must be flushed clean, otherwise the procedure cannot be done.

Complications (serious bleeding and perforation) are extremely rare — each less than 1 in 4,000 examinations, in our experience. This is far outweighed by the advantages.

If you are nervous or have a low pain threshold, we can relax you with an injection which will make you quite comfortable without putting you to sleep. You then go home in one hour with someone, or in two hours if you are alone. You may not drive for 6 hours.

The fee for the examination is paid for by OHIP. If you have any questions, please ask us.