The Valley Hospital is now open at 4 Valley Health Plaza in Paramus. (You may need to use 650 Winters Avenue for GPS.) All emergency care is now being provided at this location. Emergency care is no longer available at our Ridgewood campus.
A colonoscopy is a test to screen for and diagnose colorectal cancer. During this test, your gastroenterologist can also remove colon polyps (growths) that may turn into cancer.
A colonoscopy can also help detect colon cancer and rectal cancer early when treatment may be more effective.
Valley specialists perform more than 7,500 colonoscopies every year. We offer state-of-the-art facilities and services focused on a comfortable experience.
For your convenience, we also offer a Fast-Track Screening Colonoscopy program for healthy patients with a low risk for cancer.
During a colonoscopy, a provider inserts an endoscope in the anus and threads it through the digestive tract. An endoscope is a long, thin, flexible tube with a camera and a light at the end that allows doctors to see inside.
During the procedure, your doctor looks for:
If needed, your doctor can also:
It’s important to have an experienced gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon perform your colonoscopy. At Valley, our experts know exactly what to look for and how best to treat it.
Cancer screening is when we look for disease before you have symptoms. This is important because some cancer symptoms show when the disease is advanced and harder to treat.
A screening colonoscopy may detect colorectal cancer sooner. And the sooner we can start treatment, the better.
Guidelines for a screening colonoscopy include:
In recent years, there has been an increase in colorectal cancers in people under 50. That makes it even more important to start screening at 45.
Your doctor may also recommend a colonoscopy at any age if you have the following symptoms:
Depending on your risk or history of colorectal cancer, you may have follow-up colonoscopies every five or 10 years.
A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure, which means you don’t stay overnight at the hospital. The procedure isn’t painful, and the risk for complications is low.
You should plan to be home most of the day before and after the procedure. You should also plan to have someone drive you home from Valley.
Prepping for the colonoscopy is an important part of the process. Your intestines must be completely clear of stool to provide the best view of your digestive tract and the most accurate results.
The day before the procedure, you’ll limit your diet to clear liquids. You’ll also complete a bowel cleansing regimen (often referred to as bowel prep), which may include a prescription drink or oral laxatives.
If you take certain medicines, like for blood pressure or diabetes, you may have to adjust them. Your doctor will let you know.
On the day of your procedure, you can expect to be at Valley for about two to three hours. This includes time to check in to the endoscopy suite, procedure preparation, the colonoscopy and recovery.
Our team does everything we can to make your experience comfortable. We use sedation, a medicine that helps you relax and sleep, so you don’t feel anything.
We also create a relaxing atmosphere using lavender aromatherapy, low lighting and other methods to make it a little easier.
During the colonoscopy, you’ll lay on your side. The doctor will insert the endoscope and move it through the intestines. The whole procedure takes about 30-60 minutes.
After the colonoscopy, our nurses monitor you until the sedation wears off. You shouldn’t have any pain. But you may have bloating or cramping and feel gassy.
At home, you can resume your normal diet right away. Because your bowels are empty, expect to have your first regular bowel movement within a few days.
Contact your doctor if you have bleeding, a fever or severe pain.
If your doctor found something unusual or removed a polyp or a tissue sample for testing, we’ll contact you about the results.
Whatever happens, we’ll guide you through. If you need to see a provider for further testing or an exam, our team will connect you to other specialists. We work seamlessly with experts in digestive disorders and colorectal cancer.
