January is a good time of year to line up all your routine check-ups.
And that includes finally scheduling that dreaded colonoscopy.
You know, the one you’ve been putting off for all of 2023!
So, to help you follow through, allow me to offer some news that will help take the prep work from gritty and gruesome to effortless and easy…
Skip the shake
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends regular screenings for patients at average risk of colorectal cancer between the ages of 45 to 75.
And there are several non-invasive, home screening tests you can opt for, including stool tests like Cologuard or the fecal immunochemical test (FIT).
That said, a good, old-fashioned colonoscopy remains the gold standard.
And it’s the only screening test I recommend for someone with a higher risk of developing colon cancer. Or for someone whose non-invasive test comes back positive (or inconclusive.)
(I get one every three years, since I have an extensive family history of colon cancer.)
Unfortunately, many folks put off getting a colonoscopy (or avoid it altogether) because they dread guzzling down the gritty liquid prep.
Well, you might be about to SKIP that gruesome shake…
Ask for this tablet
When you go to schedule your colonoscopy, ask your doctor about the FDA-approved, solid tablet called SUTAB.
It includes the following active ingredients:
- Sodium sulfate
- Magnesium sulfate
- Potassium chloride
If they offer this option, just know you still have to stop eating solid foods the day before your colonoscopy. And you can’t drink or eat anything in the last few hours before the test.
But for someone who absolutely hates drinking that gritty shake, it’s an effective alternative. Better yet, you can take it with water!
At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter how you choose to go about the prep for your colonoscopy…
Just make sure to schedule it if you’re due this year (or PAST due). Remember, it’s still the best test we have for detecting deadly colon cancer.
P.S. For simple, science-based strategies to fight any type of cancer, I encourage you to check out my comprehensive, online learning tool, my Essential Cancer Protocol. Click here to learn more!
Source:
“New Colonoscopy Prep Tablet Approved by FDA.” Compass Oncology. (compassoncology.com/blog/new-colonoscopy-prep-tablet-approved-by-fda)