The Gold Standard — A Guide to Colonoscopy
The colonoscopy remains the "gold standard" of screening because it is both a diagnostic and a therapeutic tool. During the procedure, a doctor uses a long, flexible tube with a camera (colonoscope) to examine the entire lining of the colon and rectum.
The unique advantage of a colonoscopy is that if a doctor finds a polyp, they can remove it immediately during the same procedure. This prevents the need for a second surgery and stops the cancer before it starts. For patients at average risk, a clear colonoscopy typically only needs to be repeated every 10 years.
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