Don’t Shy Away From This Important Screening
A colonoscopy is a simple colon cancer screening test that allows a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon to look at the inside of the colon (lower intestines) and rectum. The screening is used to detect:
- Polyps, precancerous abnormal growths
- Tumors
- Inflammation
- Ulcers
- Bleeding
Even though colon cancer is so easily prevented, it remains the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The latest research from the Centers for Disease Control suggests that 21.7 million Americans age 50 to 75 have never been tested for colon and rectal cancer, and 1 in 3 adults are not up-to-date with their screenings.
Don’t let fear or embarrassment keep you from having a colonoscopy. Talk to your doctor and schedule a screening. It could save your life.
Fast Track Option
Virtua offers a fast-track scheduling option to skip the GI office appointment and go right to your colonoscopy procedure. To be eligible for a fast-track colonoscopy, you must be age 45 or older, relatively healthy, and have no unusual gastrointestinal symptoms. Ask about fast track when you schedule your procedure.
Colon Cancer Screening at Virtua
The Virtua doctors and nurses on our colonoscopy team take great care to ensure that our patients have a safe, comfortable experience.
Our team uses high-definition colonoscopy scopes (cameras) that show greater detail of the lining of the intestine, as well as emphasize suspicious growths such as polyps or precancerous lesions that are usually hard to see.
If needed, Virtua provides leading-edge procedures, including robotic surgery and transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMS). This minimally invasive procedure is successful in removing benign or early-stage cancerous rectal tumors as well as large polyps that can’t be removed by an endoscope.
In addition, free screenings are available for under- or un-insured residents of Burlington and Camden counties.
