Colonoscopies Save Lives: 4 Questions You Should Ask After Yours

Let’s be real—no one wakes up excited for a colonoscopy. It’s not on anyone’s bucket list, but it’s one of the most important things you can do for your long-term health. Dr. Peter Attia—a physician who focuses on longevity—recommends this life-saving procedure and highlights key steps to make sure you get the most out of it.

Let's get to what you need to know—why colonoscopies matter, what to ask your doctor, and how to make the prep less miserable.

Why Get a Colonoscopy?

Colon cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. It’s deadly, but here’s the good news: it’s also highly preventable. Colon cancer progresses slowly, often over years, moving from a normal colon to precancerous polyps and eventually cancer. This progression makes it one of the most detectable and treatable cancers if caught early.

Enter the colonoscopy: a simple procedure that allows your doctor to look inside your colon, remove any suspicious polyps, and screen for cancer—all at once.

3 Questions You Should Ask After Your Colonoscopy

Dr. Attia recommends asking your endoscopist these four key questions immediately after the procedure. They ensure your screening was thorough and effective:

How good was the bowel prep? Bowel prep—the not-so-fun part where you clear out your system before the procedure—is critical. A clean colon means the doctor can see everything. The prep is scored from 1 to 9, with 9 being perfect. Aim for the highest score to ensure your colonoscopy is as effective as possible.

Did you intubate the cecum? This simply means: did the doctor make it all the way through your colon to the start of your small intestine (the cecum)? A complete examination is essential because it ensures no area of your colon was missed.

How much time did you spend examining the colon, and did you retroflex? Time matters. A thorough colonoscopy takes several minutes because the endoscopist is carefully examining every inch of your colon. Retroflexion is another critical step, where the doctor looks back at the colon in a way that helps identify polyps that might otherwise be missed.

Finally, ask: Did you find any polyps? If polyps are found, they’re typically sampled for further testing. The pathology results will determine when you need your next colonoscopy—whether that’s in 5 years, 3 years, or sooner.

If your colonoscopy results are clear and you’re on a 5-year schedule, Dr. Attia also recommends adding an at-home screening test, like Cologuard, in between visits. This helps ensure you’re still keeping tabs on your colon health.

How to Make the Prep Less Miserable

Let’s be honest—the prep is often the hardest part. But Dr. Attia recommends a more tolerable option: Sutab.

Instead of drinking gallons of a horrible-tasting liquid (like the old-school Golightly prep), Sutab involves taking 12 tablets with water the evening before and another 12 tablets early the next morning.

For most people, this approach is much easier and far less unpleasant. If you’re dreading the prep, talk to your doctor about Sutab or other modern prep options—they’re worth asking about.

No one loves the idea of a colonoscopy, but it’s a simple, life-saving procedure. If you’re 45 or older—or younger with risk factors—don’t put it off. And when you do schedule your colonoscopy, take a proactive approach:

• Ask about your bowel prep score.

• Confirm the cecum was reached.

• Ensure the exam was thorough

• Ask about any polyps

Following these steps ensures you get the most out of the procedure and stay ahead of colon cancer. Screen early, screen thoroughly, and take care of yourself. It’s one of the best decisions you can make for your health.

I’m here to support you on your journey to a healthier, fitter life. As always, I appreciate your feedback and suggestions. Let me know what topics you’d like me to cover in future issues by replying to this email.

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Be well,

Dave

Please note: This newsletter is designed for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for advice tailored to your health and fitness needs.