How to Support a Loved One Going Through a Colonoscopy

Open communication is essential to supporting a loved one through colon cancer treatment. Educating yourself about the disease’s stages and treatments will help you become a valuable and empathetic support system.

During the exam, doctors insert a tube-like instrument called a colonoscope into your rectum. The scope has a light and video camera and a tube that allows doctors to pump air into your large intestine to inflate it for better viewing.

Ask for Help

A colonoscopy Delaware is one of medicine’s most powerful tools for preventing cancer, particularly colorectal cancer, which often shows no symptoms until it has advanced to the later stages. Despite this, many people avoid getting the lifesaving screening test. 

A colonoscopy is a painless procedure a doctor performs with a flexible tube called a colonoscope. The scope allows doctors to view the entire colon (large intestine) and rectum, looking for polyps or tumors that could turn into cancer. If any are found, they can be removed during the same visit.

Patients must follow a special diet the day before the procedure and may not drink anything other than clear liquids like water, tea without milk or cream, broth, or carbonated soda. They also must arrange for a ride home from the ambulatory surgery center, as sedatives and anesthesia will prevent them from driving.

Offer Emotional Support

For many people, the mere mention of a colonoscopy can provoke feelings of anxiety and dread. However, the procedure is a necessary one that can help prevent colorectal cancer by finding and removing precancerous polyps.

Colonoscopies are essential preventive screenings; most health insurance plans cover the procedure. However, patients need to prepare mentally as well as physically.

Taking certain medications can help ease discomfort and pain after the procedure. Generally, over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen are recommended.

Patients must stay hydrated on the day off and the night before their procedure. Drinking plenty of clear liquids can also help relieve discomfort after the procedure. Some patients may experience bloating and abdominal cramping after a colonoscopy, but this should resolve within a few days.

Some people may find it helpful to use distraction techniques during a colonoscopy, such as using a heating pad or listening to music. Asking for a warm blanket and requesting a different position can reduce discomfort.

Address Financial Concerns

Colonoscopies are relatively quick, painless procedures that allow doctors to see the entire colon lining and remove small polyps. They are also usually done under light sedation. However, the procedure has its downsides. A person can experience stomach cramping and bloating and occasionally pass blood with their first bowel movement after a colonoscopy.

African Americans face structural barriers that may impact their colon cancer screening rates, such as limited access to healthcare facilities and quality healthcare practitioners. Community-level issues like unemployment and high housing burdens have also been linked to low colonoscopy utilization.

Suggest that your loved one get a referral from their primary care provider to a gastroenterologist who can perform the exam. A gastroenterologist can also write a letter of medical necessity to ensure that the cost of the procedure is fully covered by insurance. You can also offer to help with the insurance paperwork or advocate on their behalf if needed.