There are lots of reasons that we don’t do the things that we know we should do. Procrastination might be one of the most common reasons. Often, the schedule of our day is dictated by what seems to be the most important at the moment: grocery shopping, getting the car fixed, finishing a project at work, or returning phone calls. These “daily grind” tasks can prevent us from prioritizing and making room in our calendar for self-care and preventive screenings like colonoscopies.
For some people, though, fear of the unknown is our worst enemy. Colonoscopies are often associated with unpleasant words like “bowel cleanse,” “fasting” and “polyp removal,” and many people think that colonoscopies are painful, expensive and embarrassing. It’s not hard to understand why a colon screening would not be your first choice of how to spend your day, but the common response from most colonoscopy first-timers is, “It actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”
We cannot forget that colonoscopies save lives. Sometimes, just getting some facts and equipping ourselves with information can help assuage fears and insecurities and help keep everything in perspective.
If you have never had a colonoscopy before, you naturally will have some questions. We have a “What to Expect” video to help answer some of your questions like:
- What are the benefits of having a colonoscopy?
- Will I be awake or asleep during the procedure?
- What are some of the associated risks of a colonoscopy?
- Why is the colonoscopy prep so important?
- What do I need to do on the day of the procedure?
- What should I bring on the day of my colonoscopy?
- How will I feel after the screening?
We know that knowledge is power, so equip yourself with the correct facts and statistics. A colonoscopy is vitally important to your health. If you have been delaying your colonoscopy because of being too busy, procrastinating or fear, remember this key fact: colon cancer is 90 percent treatable when discovered in the early stages. Watch our video and schedule your procedure to keep you colon cancer-free!