Colonoscopy Archives - Granite Peaks Gastroenterology of Utah

The Role of Endoscopy in Gastrointestinal Health

Posted on September 11, 2023September 11, 2023 by fuelmarketing

Gastrointestinal issues are not only uncomfortable but may also indicate more serious underlying conditions. One of the key diagnostic tools in the field of gastroenterology is endoscopy. This procedure allows healthcare providers to visualize inside the gastrointestinal tract, aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions. But what exactly is endoscopy, and how does it contribute to gastrointestinal health?

What Is Endoscopy?

Endoscopy is a medical procedure using a specialized instrument known as an endoscope. This device is a flexible, lighted tube with a miniature camera that allows doctors to view the interior lining of the digestive tract. An endoscope can be inserted through either the mouth or the anus, depending on which part of the gastrointestinal tract needs to be examined.

Types of Endoscopy

Three types of endoscopic procedures we use at Granite Peaks are:

Upper Endoscopy

This procedure examines the upper part of the digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine. It is commonly performed to diagnose conditions like acid reflux, ulcers, and certain types of tumors.

Colonoscopy

A specialized form of endoscopy, colonoscopy is designed to examine the rectum, colon and cecum, where the small and large intestines meet. It is particularly useful for early detection of colorectal cancer and immediate removal of colon polyps. It also is used to diagnose inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, and to investigate the cause of diarrhea, bleeding, anemia and many other conditions.

Capsule Endoscopy

Capsule endoscopy is most helpful for diagnosing conditions in the small intestine. This long, winding organ cannot be visualized with an ordinary endoscope. The patient swallows a small capsule with a camera inside. As the capsule travels through the digestive system, it records pictures of the inside of the intestine, providing valuable information for the gastroenterologist.

Benefits of Endoscopy

Accurate Diagnosis

The direct visualization of the gastrointestinal tract allows for a more accurate diagnosis than other imaging tests like X-rays and allows for biopsies to be taken to test for disease cells.

Minimally Invasive

Being less invasive compared to surgery, an endoscopy procedure poses fewer risks, and recovery is quick – just a few hours to recover from anesthesia.

Therapeutic Applications

Beyond diagnosis, endoscopy can also be used for treatment purposes. For instance, doctors can remove polyps during a colonoscopy or stop bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

Risks and Considerations

Although endoscopy is generally considered safe, there are risks as with any medical procedure, such as infection, bleeding, or perforation of the gastrointestinal tract. Always discuss with your gastroenterologist whether endoscopy is the most appropriate diagnostic tool for your specific condition.

When Should You Consider an Endoscopy?

If you are experiencing symptoms like persistent abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or difficulty swallowing, your healthcare provider may recommend an endoscopic examination. Likewise, routine screenings like colonoscopies are recommended for individuals over the age of 45 as a preventative measure against colorectal cancer.

Endoscopy procedures play a vital role in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal issues. The minimally invasive nature, coupled with the diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, makes endoscopy an invaluable tool in modern gastroenterology. If you are facing persistent gastrointestinal issues, consult your gastroenterology specialist to determine if endoscopy could be an appropriate step toward effectively managing your condition.

If you’re experiencing persistent gastrointestinal issues or are due for a routine screening, take control of your health today. Contact our specialized team to schedule an office visit or an endoscopy procedure and get the comprehensive care you deserve.

Give Yourself a Fighting Chance Against Colon Cancer

Posted on March 1, 2023February 24, 2023 by fuelmarketing

Colon cancer is serious. It’s the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths for men and women in their respective categories. If you combine men and women, it jumps to the second leading cause. While some risk factors are out of your control, such as age or race, there are lifestyle factors that may impact your risk and are within your control.

45 is the New 50 – Get Screened!

The new recommended age for those at average risk to begin screening for colon cancer is 45. Why? The western sedentary lifestyle and diet have increased the risk of developing colon cancer at a younger age. If you have a family history of colon cancer, your doctor will likely recommend a screening at an even younger age. Know your family history – it could save your life!

Diet

A typical Western diet may put you at higher risk of developing colon cancer, among other health issues. The Western diet is characterized by low fiber, high fat and high calorie, high salt processed foods. You may be able to lower your risk of developing colon cancer by including more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet. These foods provide a variety of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and ample amounts of fiber – all the “good for you” qualities in food!

Physical Activity Levels

More and more people live increasingly sedentary lifestyles putting you at a higher risk of developing colon cancer. Reduce your risk by being physically active for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. You don’t have to get all of your activity in at once. Try getting up and moving for 5-10 minutes at a time repeatedly throughout the day. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about increasing your physical activity.

Weight

Obesity doesn’t just increase your risk of developing colon cancer–it also increases your risk of dying from it in comparison to those with a normal weight. Talk to your doctor about weight loss goals so they can help you develop a healthy, realistic plan to meet them. Some insurances will even help patients attain weight management services. Remember, significant weight loss takes time, patience and persistence.

While the exact cause of colon cancer remains unknown, we do know that certain lifestyle factors increase your risk of developing it. Give yourself a fighting chance to live a long, healthy life. Take care of your body and get screened today. The specialists at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology are in your corner.

Headlines are misleading. Colorectal cancer screening saves lives!

Posted on October 27, 2022October 26, 2022 by fuelmarketing

You may have recently read or heard that a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that colonoscopy does not reduce colorectal cancer very much and does not reduce death from colorectal cancer.

Not exactly.

As with many things, the details matter. Those details show a very different picture than the headlines suggest.

THE STUDY:

85,000 people living in four countries in Europe
One-third received a letter inviting them to have a colonoscopy, the others received no colorectal cancer screening
Ten years later, colon cancer risk was 18% less in the invited group and there was no difference in colorectal cancer deaths between the groups. This is the typical headline
But… many important details were left out

THE DETAILS:

Less than half (42%) of those invited to have a colonoscopy actually had one
In those who actually had a colonoscopy:
- The risk of developing colorectal cancer decreased by 31%
- The risk of dying from colorectal cancer decreased by 50%

THE BOTTOM LINE:

This study, along with prior studies, shows that colonoscopy decreases your chances of getting and dying from colorectal cancer. Getting sick and dying from colorectal cancer – especially due to delayed screening – is real. Screening with colonoscopy saves lives.

For more information, check out the topics on Colonoscopy and Colorectal Cancer:

gi.org/topics/colorectal-cancer

The Quick and Easy Way to Learn About a Colonoscopy

Posted on March 16, 2022March 16, 2022 by Granite Peaks

Originally posted on 3/11/2019
Updated on 3/16/2022

If you’re not sure what is involved in having a colonoscopy, this easy-to-read infographic developed by the doctors at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology may answer your questions. A physician may use a colonoscopy to test for colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and many other digestive health ailments. It allows a physician to visually examine the inside of your large intestine and remove polyps, gather biopsies or evaluate damage from other conditions.

It’s easier than you think and could uncover the answers to your digestive health problems. Contact Granite Peaks Gastroenterology, in Sandy or Lehi, to determine what is the next step to diagnosing your digestive issues.

Download Information

colonoscopy micrographic

The Facts About a Colonoscopy

Posted on August 5, 2021August 5, 2021 by Granite Peaks

A colonoscopy is a simple procedure during which a gastroenterologist uses a Colonoscope to view the entire colon of a patient. This procedure may be used for diagnosing various gastrointestinal disorders, such as colon polyps, colon cancer, diverticulosis, inflammatory bowel disease, rectal bleeding or abdominal pain.

The unique benefit of having a colonoscopy colon cancer screening is that the test is also the treatment for colon polyps. While the gastroenterologist is viewing the colon, they remove polyps before they have a chance to grow and develop into cancer.

What to Expect Before Your Colonoscopy

The bowel prep is what most patients dread the most, and it’s actually quite simple. For most people, not all, they will be on a clear liquid diet the day before their procedure. They will begin drinking the first dose of bowel prep (in most cases, a tasteless powder mixed with the clear liquid of your choice) between 4-5:30pm that evening. After spending some time in the bathroom, you should be able to get some sleep, waking up 4 hours before your appointment to drink the second half of your bowel prep. Here are some other expectations you should have before your colonoscopy:

Plan for your driver to remain at the facility during your procedure
Plan to be at our facility for approximately 2 hours
Complete paperwork
Nurses will admit you and place your IV
Meet your procedure team – Doctor, CRNA, Technician
Your Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) will sedate you using Propofol

What to Expect During Your Colonoscopy

Our gastroenterologists use a flexible instrument with a light and miniature camera on the tip, called an endoscope. The “scope” is placed in the rectum and advanced through the colon. The camera displays magnified images on the TV for your gastroenterologist to evaluate while performing the colonoscopy. Miniaturized instruments can be inserted through the scope to obtain biopsies of the colon, remove polyps and to help diagnose or treat your condition. Bonus: a hemorrhoid banding is required, it can be done at the end of your procedure, while you are still sedated.

What to Expect After Your Colonoscopy

You will awaken in the recovery area where your driver may join you, if you wish
You’ll need to pass gas – do this as much as possible to prevent cramping
Your doctor will discuss his/her impressions of the exam
Your nurse will discuss discharge instructions with you
Dress, go home and EAT (unless your doctor instructed otherwise)
Any biopsies taken will be sent to a lab for evaluation
Expect Lab Results in 7-14 days, depending on the type of tests
You may not drive, make legal decisions or perform functions requiring judgment or balance for 4 hours
Our nurses will call you the first business day following your procedure to check on you and to address any issues or questions you may have. Please let them know if you are experiencing any problems after your procedure.
When results are available, your physician’s medical assistant will call you to share results and any orders the physician feels are important for your continuing digestive health care.

A colonoscopy is a simple procedure with excellent success rates for catching colon cancer in its early stages. If you are 45 or older, or have a family history of colon cancer, schedule your colon cancer screening colonoscopy today with the physicians at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology.

Colonoscopy Myths & Misconceptions

Posted on August 15, 2019March 14, 2022 by fuelmarketing

Perhaps no other routine medical procedure is dreaded as much as an impending colonoscopy. People come up with all kinds of excuses for not having this procedure. Before you put your life at risk by skipping your recommended colon cancer screening, the healthcare providers at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology would like to clarify some of these misconceptions and bust a few myths while we’re at it.

Myth 1: I Don’t Need a Colonoscopy

Patients who have no personal or family history of colorectal cancer and no obvious symptoms may believe they don’t need this important cancer screening. The truth is with this type of cancer everyone over the age of 45 is at risk and there are usually no symptoms until it’s too late. Those with a family history of cancer or polyps should be screened earlier than 45. The American Cancer Society reports that approximately 1 in 24 people will develop colon cancer during their lifetime. When this life-threatening disease is one of the most preventable types of cancer, why take that risk?

Myth 2: The Colonoscopy Prep Is Unbearable

For some people, this is the entire reason they avoid having a colonoscopy. The prep solution most commonly used at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology is available over the counter, has no flavor at all, and is a gentle way to cleanse the colon prior to a colonoscopy. Some people or providers still require or prefer a prescription, but even those are fairly easy. Most patients are on a clear liquid diet the day before their procedure and can go about their normal activities until that evening when they start the prep.

Myth 3: The Risks of Colonoscopy Are Too High

Some people may have heard scary reports of bowel perforation. It does happen in rare cases, but the Cleveland Clinic reports that the risk of intestinal perforation during a colonoscopy is about 1 in 1,000. Other studies put the rate of risk even lower, at about 1 in 1750. Remember, the risks of having colorectal cancer are about 1 in 24.

Myth 4: The Procedure Is Painful & Embarrassing

During procedures, our patients are sedated with Propofol, a non-narcotic sedative. They are asleep during the entire process and do not experience pain or remember any aspect of the procedure. Our doctors, nurses and other medical staff are extremely respectful of our patients and aware of the sensitive nature of this procedure. We take every action to ensure your comfort, privacy and modesty. And, remember, gastroenterologists perform thousands of these procedures every year with the goal of saving lives and preventing disease. We understand the importance of putting you at ease.

Granite Peaks GI performs this routine, safe procedure in our endoscopy centers in Sandy, Utah locations. Our doctors are board-certified gastroenterologists, specially trained to make the procedure as safe, effective and comfortable as possible. Contact us today for more information, or to schedule a colonoscopy appointment.

Understanding Colon Polyps and Treatment

Posted on March 28, 2017February 14, 2019 by fuelmarketing

By American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

What Is a Colon Polyp?
Polyps are benign growths (noncancerous tumors or neoplasms) involving the lining of the bowel. They can occur in several locations in the gastrointestinal tract but are most common in the colon. They vary in size from less than a quarter of an inch to several inches in diameter. They look like small bumps growing from the lining of the bowel and protruding into the lumen (bowel cavity). They sometimes grow on a “stalk” and look like mushrooms. Some polyps can also be flat. Many patients have several polyps scattered in different parts of the colon. Some polyps can contain small areas of cancer, although the vast majority of polyps do not.

How Common Are Colon Polyps? What Causes Them?
Polyps are very common in adults, who have an increased chance of acquiring them, especially as we get older. While quite rare in 20-year-olds, it’s estimated that the average 60-year-old without special risk factors for polyps has a 25 percent chance of having a polyp. We don’t know what causes polyps. Some experts believe a high-fat, low-fiber diet can be a predisposition to polyp formation. There may be a genetic risk to develop polyps as well.

What Are Known Risks for Developing Polyps?
The biggest risk factor for developing polyps is being older than 50. A family history of colon polyps or colon cancer increases the risk of polyps. Also, patients with a personal history of polyps or colon cancer are at risk of developing new polyps. In addition, there are some rare polyp or cancer syndromes that run in families and increase the risk of polyps occurring at younger ages.

There are two common types: hyperplastic polyp and adenoma. The hyperplastic polyp is not at risk for cancer. The adenoma, however, is thought to be the precursor (origin) for almost all colon cancers, although most adenomas never become cancers. Histology examination of tissue under a microscope) is the best way to differentiate between hyperplastic and adenomatous polyps.

Although it’s impossible to tell which adenomatous polyps will become cancers, larger polyps are more likely to become cancers and some of the largest ones (those larger than 1 inch) can already contain small areas of cancer. Because your doctor cannot be certain of the tissue type by the polyp’s appearance, doctors generally recommend removing all polyps found during a colonoscopy.

How Are Polyps Found?
Most polyps cause no symptoms. Larger ones can cause blood in the stools, but even they are usually asymptomatic. Therefore, the best way to detect polyps is by screening individuals with no symptoms. Several other screening techniques are available: testing stool specimens for traces of blood, performing sigmoidoscopy to look into the lower third of the colon, or using a radiology test such as a barium enema or CT colonography. If one of these tests finds or suspects polyps, your doctor will generally recommend colonoscopy to remove them. Because colonoscopy is the most accurate way to detect polyps, many experts now recommend colonoscopy as a screening method so that any polyps found or suspected can be removed during the same procedure.

How Are Polyps Removed?
Most polyps found during colonoscopy can be completely removed during the procedure. Various removal techniques are available; most involve removing them with a wire loop biopsy forceps and/or burning the polyp base with an electric current. This is called polyp resection. Because the bowel’s lining isn’t sensitive to cutting or burning, polyp resection doesn’t cause discomfort. Resected polyps are then examined under a microscope by a pathologist to determine the tissue type and to detect any cancer. If a large or unusual looking polyp is removed or left for possible surgical management, the endoscopist may mark the site by injecting small amounts of sterile India ink or carbon black into the bowel wall. this is called endoscopic tattooing.

What Are the Risks of Polyp Removal?
Polyp removal (or polypectomy) during colonoscopy is a routine outpatient procedure. Possible complications, which are uncommon, include bleeding from the polypectomy site and perforation (a hole or tear) of the colon. Bleeding from the polypectomy site can be immediate or delayed for several days; persistent bleeding can almost always be stopped by treatment during colonoscopy. Perforations rarely occur and may require surgery to repair.

How Often Do I Need Colonoscopy if I Have Polyps Removed?
Your doctor will decide when your next colonoscopy is necessary. The timing depends on several factors, including the numbe and size of polyps removed, the polyps’ tissue type and the quality of the colon cleansing for your previous procedure. The quality of cleansing affects your doctor’s ability to see the surface of the colon.

If the polyps were small and the entire colon was well seen during your colonoscopy, doctors generally recommend a repeat colonoscopy in three to five years. If your repeat colonoscopy doesn’t show any indication of polyps, you might not need another procedure for an additional five years.

However, if the polyps were large and flat, your doctor might recommend an interval of only months before a repeat colonoscopy to assure complete polyp removal. Your doctor will discuss those options with you.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: The preceding information is intended only to provide general information and not as a definitive basis for diagnosis or treatment in any particular case. It is very important that you consult your doctor about your specific condition.

Cancer Survivor Story: Stacey

Posted on March 23, 2017March 28, 2017 by fuelmarketing

Stacey works as a procedure scheduler at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology. When she was thirty years old and pregnant with her youngest child, she found a lump in her breast. The lump turned out to be cancerous, and it didn’t look good for Stacey. But after going through harsh chemotherapy and treatment, Stacey is a cancer survivor.

Eight years later, Stacey began working at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology. “At the time, I was desperately needing a job,” she says, “but I wasn’t happy about it…all I could think about was how upset I was to be talking to patients about their bowel habits all day.” Little did she know that her new job would be a blessing in disguise. Stacey tells us:

“One morning, I was chatting with a new coworker about my battles with breast cancer. One of our doctors, Dr. Heiner, overheard the conversation and asked me if I had ever had a colonoscopy. Shocked, I sternly replied, ‘I am thirty-eight years old, no I have not had a colonoscopy!’ He told me that breast cancer and colon cancer are very closely related, and the next thing I know, he’s scheduled me for a procedure the very next day.”

“So there I was, about to have a colonoscopy performed by my employer, wondering how I was going to go into work to face him after he’s seen my best side. As the sedation wore off and I woke up, Dr. Heiner was there smiling and proud and said, ‘The colonoscopy just saved your life.’ He went on to explain that he had found precancerous polyps and that I would have never made it to forty if I hadn’t had the procedure.”

“Thirteen years later and I am still here, a cancer survivor, preaching to the choir every single day. I have had five colonoscopies since and have had precancerous polyps each time. I can’t begin to tell people how important [colonoscopy screening] is. That’s why I love my job so much, I love sharing my story to help people understand and spread colon cancer awareness.”

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the U.S.. But when colorectal cancer is diagnosed early, the 5 year survival rate is 90%. Screening and early detection saves lives. Schedule a colonoscopy with Granite Peaks Gastroenterology today.