The most effective way to reduce your risk of colon cancer is with screening, which can include a screening colonoscopy, or a colonoscopy to follow-up on an abnormal stool-based screening test, such as a fecal immunochemical test (FIT).
A colonoscopy can diagnose a wide range of colon conditions that cause symptoms.
A colonoscopy is also important for people without symptoms. A fair number of people (but not all people) have colorectal polyps. Polyps are more common with age. These growths can sometimes become cancerous. You can’t feel polyps or early-stage colorectal cancer, which is why screening is so important. Removing polyps significantly lowers cancer risk.
Our team’s Colonoscopy Quality Assurance Program ensures you will undergo a high-quality procedure that maximizes the chance that we can prevent cancer.
Guidelines now recommend screening start at age 45
Colonoscopy Quality Assurance Program
Our program far exceeds national benchmarks:
- Adenoma detection rate (ADR): the higher the rate at which we find polyps (adenomas) and remove them, the lower your chance of developing cancer. While the national ADR benchmark is to find adenomas in at least 25% of patients, our ADR is 44%.
- Adequate preparation rate: Your colon must be clean for us to see well and find abnormalities. While the national benchmark is 85%, our adequate preparation rate at Stanford Health Care is 94%.
- Cecal intubation rate: A complete exam all the way around to the cecum is needed for maximum prevention. While the national benchmark for a complete examination is 90% for all colonoscopies, our rate is 96%.
- Average withdrawal time: A thorough exam requires taking the time to inspect the colon carefully. While the national benchmark for time spent withdrawing the scope is 6 to 8 minutes minimum, our average withdrawal time is 15 minutes at Stanford Health Care.
While the national ADR benchmark is to find adenomas in at least 25% of patients, our ADR is 44%.